Supporting patient engagement with digital health

Patient example: Clare's story

Clare's engagement with her own self-management increased, resulting in her readings being 100% in range.

Clare was referred to the diabetes specialist clinic with an HbA1c of 102 mmol/mol. Clare hadn’t been engaging with her diabetes care and admits she had been “in denial” with her diabetes management for about twenty years. She hadn’t tried using a health management app before and she very rarely checked her blood glucose; usually only when she knew that she had an upcoming appointment with her consultant.

At the specialist clinic Clare was set up with Accu-Chek Instant with mySugr, she found it helped to make her interested in her blood glucose readings. She is now monitoring twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. She finds that having the graph, and being able to see her own data helps to motivate her, she now feels she can make a difference to her diabetes management.

Clare’s HbA1c is now the lowest it’s ever been in her life, at 44 mmol/mol, and Clare was discharged from the diabetes specialist service after six months.

Even though she’s left the service her confidence is boosted because she has the mySugr app.

“The app has made me more aware of how I can help myself. I rely on my partner for support but this gives me independence. I know my blood glucose results right away and I get a good feeling when I see good results. It gives you a goal, you see that HbA1c and you never want it to go up again.” - Clare, patient with diabetes

“Clare has gone from being in denial to embracing her health, it’s opened up a whole new world to her. She is in control of her own self-monitoring and her diabetes care.” - Clare’s husband

Patient example: Leslie's story

Leslie finds data sharing with the mySugr app motivational, and has begun monitoring more frequently.

When Leslie’s blood glucose levels started to rise he was referred to the diabetes specialist service in Sunderland. Until then, he had been using a paper diary to record his blood glucose readings but admitted he was monitoring infrequently.

The diabetes specialist nurse who saw Leslie at the clinic set up the mySugr app on his phone, which he used alongside the Accu-Chek Instant meter. Leslie found this way of recording his blood glucose results “more accurate and a more sensible way of doing it”, and he found it incredibly useful to have the nurse set up the app for him.

Leslie now checks between two and five times a day.

Leslie hadn’t used a health app prior to using mySugr, but he now regularly reviews his data and he likes being able to look back and compare his previous data. He also values being able to see his estimated HbA1c. Previously he had no idea what this value was, and the run up to receiving this result made him nervous.

“I now feel more confident in receiving my HbA1c result, without the technology I felt alone but now for the past six months I’ve felt connected and like I have the help and support I need. It fills me full of confidence that my healthcare team can see what’s happening on a daily and weekly basis with my blood glucose.” - Leslie, patient with diabetes