Integrating Technology into Self-Management Ecosystems: Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes in the UK using Smartwatches

Sam James, Miranda Armstrong, Zahraa Abdallah, Harry Emerson & Aisling O'Kane. 2025.

Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Self-managing chronic conditions typically involves a diverse network of individuals and devices, forming a self-management ecosystem. For this ecosystem to be effective, components need to work together cohesively. The rapid advancement of technology means new devices need to be repeatedly integrated into existing self-management ecosystems. To examine this process, we used the case study of young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the UK who were given a smartwatch. Over six months, interviews and focus groups were performed to explore their smartwatch use alongside T1D management. Thematic analysis highlighted that smartwatches have potential as a display, interface and data source in T1D management, which is of particular importance as artificial intelligence plays a growing role in self-management ecosystems. It also emphasised the need for customisation, flexibility and adaptability, and automation in the design of technology to promote integration into existing self-management ecosystems for both T1D and other chronic conditions.

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Citation

Gordon James, S., Armstrong, M. E. G., Abdallah, Z. S., Emerson, H., & O'Kane, A. A. (2025). Integrating technology into self-management ecosystems: young adults with type 1 diabetes in the uk using smartwatches. Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1–20).

BibTeX

@inproceedings{gordon2025integrating, title={Integrating Technology into Self-Management Ecosystems: Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes in the UK using Smartwatches}, author={Gordon James, Sam and Armstrong, Miranda Elaine Glynis and Abdallah, Zahraa S and Emerson, Harry and O'Kane, Aisling Ann}, booktitle={Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems}, pages={1--20}, year={2025} }