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Designing a Carbohydrate Counting App for Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Usability Testing Interview Study
Asmaa Housni1, Aidan Shulkin2, Alexandra Katz3
1School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore drive, Montreal, QC, H9V 1X9, Canada, 1 514-398-7848.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|March 31, 2026
Summary
This study developed a mobile app for type 1 diabetes (T1D) management, focusing on user-centered design for carbohydrate counting and insulin dosing. The app balances automation with user control, enhancing self-efficacy in young adults with T1D.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Diabetes Technology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Carbohydrate counting (CC) is crucial for type 1 diabetes (T1D) management but can be burdensome.
- Existing mobile apps lack integrated photo-based carbohydrate recognition and bolus calculators.
- A comprehensive solution is needed to simplify insulin dose adjustment for individuals with T1D.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify user-informed design principles for optimizing a novel mobile app.
- To enhance support for young adults with T1D in carbohydrate counting and insulin dosing.
- To create a user-centered self-management tool beyond a clinical application.
Main Methods:
- Iterative usability testing with 4 rounds and 3-5 participants per round.
- Qualitative analysis of think-aloud interviews to derive design principles.
- Participant feedback informed app refinement between testing rounds.
Main Results:
- A person-centered design prioritizing users' lived experiences is essential.
- Personalization features (profiles, metrics, AI recommendations) are key.
- Intuitive navigation, clear guidance, and culturally inclusive content improve usability and engagement.
- Users desire centralized management, contextual integration, sharable reports, and self-efficacy tools.
- Concerns about automation necessitate transparent data verification and user override options.
Conclusions:
- Balancing automation with user control, personalization, and contextual understanding are critical design principles.
- Incorporating these features can enhance engagement and app relevance for T1D self-management.
- The app has the potential to improve self-efficacy in young adults with T1D.
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