Abstract

Objective: This early-phase digital initiative aimed to develop a centralized, user-friendly digital platform that aggregates resources for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) self-management in British Columbia, Canada. The goal was to synthesize effective strategies from the literature to create an accessible resource for both patients and healthcare providers, thereby improving access to high-quality, publicly available T2DM educational materials.


Methods: A targeted literature review across PubMed, Cochrane, IEEE Xplore, and CINAHL identified essential components for T2DM digital platforms. We thematically synthesized a list of evidence-based features and design frameworks critical to this type of platform. Website development was co-led by patients and healthcare professionals through interviews (focus groups), usability testing (remote and contextual inquiry), and structured surveys with iterative feedback to ensure relevance and real-world applicability. Nine patients contributed lived experiences, while eleven clinicians provided expert input, shaping a digital platform that is both empowering and clinically sound.


Results: The literature review identified key features, including automated communication, interactive tools, goal tracking, educational resources, and professional support. A user-centered design approach ensured accessibility and alignment with user needs. The final platform integrated over 375 evidence-based resources, interactive features, and community support. This early-phase project recorded 1,368 website visits, 756 unique visitors, an average session duration of over 4 minutes (benchmark: 2–3 minutes), two pages per session (benchmark: 2 pages), and a 51% bounce rate (benchmark: ≤60%). These results underscore the platform’s role in enhancing health information access and user engagement.


Conclusion: This centralized digital platform for T2DM in British Columbia demonstrates the potential of user-centered, co-designed solutions to transform chronic disease management. By integrating resources, facilitating collaboration, and providing tailored support, this initiative addresses key gaps in diabetes care and exemplifies a scalable model for digital health innovation. Ongoing efforts will monitor long-term data to improve accessibility, expand content, and ensure continuous platform enhancement to better meet the needs of users and healthcare systems alike.

Keywords: digital health diabetes self-management user-centered design

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