Digital Therapeutics: Leading the Way to Improved Outcomes for People With Diabetes

Abstract

IN BRIEF The shift from acute illness to the epidemic of chronic conditions is the hallmark of the past 50 years. In addition to the provision of high-quality, accessible, and comprehensive medical care, one key to improving outcomes for individuals with diabetes and other chronic conditions is to increase their ability to self-manage. Having a high degree of self-efficacy is key to a person’s ability to self-manage. One major challenge is finding scalable and affordable approaches that successfully increase self-efficacy. The field of digital health encompasses a variety of technology-enabled tools to make clinical care and patient self-management easier and more impactful by providing effective treatments that lead to improved clinical and economic outcomes. Better Choices, Better Health, a self-efficacy–based, self-management support intervention, is an example of a successful digital therapeutic for adults with one or more chronic conditions, including diabetes.