August 2018 Issue

Diabetes Management & Nutrition Guide: Digital Health Technology in Diabetes Care
By Janice MacLeod, MA, RDN, CDE, FAADE
Today's Dietitian
Vol. 20, No. 8, P. 40

It's transforming the way people with diabetes communicate with personal health care teams and treat and manage their disease.

As consumers increasingly use technology in their everyday lives to communicate, perform daily living tasks, and seek information, they're expecting their health care services to be readily accessible digitally on their phones and tablets wherever and whenever they want. These newly empowered, engaged, and educated "e-patients" who have diabetes also are increasingly using technology to log and share lifestyle data, keep track of their health status, obtain health information, and become more active participants in their own care.

Digital health is the convergence of health care and technology. It has reached a tipping point and is rapidly redesigning clinical care. This article provides an overview of what's driving the trend in digital health supporting diabetes care, the evidence advocating its use, the promising technologies available, and the rapidly evolving role of dietitians as part of the health care team that cares for people with diabetes.

The Case for Digital Health
Chronic diseases such as diabetes that require regular follow-up and therapy progression can benefit from the integration of technology-based tools. The anytime-anywhere nature of digital technology supports the delivery of automated, individualized coaching, enabling patients to address their health issues by sharing data and connecting with their health care team when needed in between scheduled appointments. The diabetes e-health ecosystem, the use of information and communication technologies for health, as illustrated in Figure 1 on page 41, has expanded well beyond diabetes devices to include personal health devices such as physical activity and sleep trackers, cloud-connected monitoring systems, data management platforms, telehealth services, digital education, mobile apps, digital therapeutics (clinically validated apps), and social media platforms.

As outcomes-based accountability becomes the norm among diabetes specialists, there's increased demand for diabetes care and education services outside of the traditional siloed diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) services that offer face-to-face individual and group sessions. In addition, diabetes treatment protocols are becoming more complex, and as patients require extensive ongoing self-management support, digital health technology will be able to provide the critical platform to improve the health care experience and the health of populations while reducing the per capita cost of health care.1 Of interest is a quote by Kaufman and Woodley in a commentary published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology in 2011: "The current labor-intensive approach to preventing and treating diabetes is no longer feasible, and self-management support interventions that are clinically linked and technology enabled are key to modern diabetes care and represent a solution whose time has long since arrived."2

Supporting Evidence
According to a 2017 systematic review of 25 studies evaluating technology-enabled DSMES, there were improvements in A1c ranging from 0.1% to 0.8% in 18 of the 25 studies. This review identified four key elements that were incorporated into the most effective interventions. They included two-way communication, analyses of patient-generated health data, tailored education, and individualized feedback. The authors referred to this as a technology-enabled self-management feedback loop (see Figure 2), which connects people with their health care providers.3

Health care team members' review of patient-generated health data can lead to more immediate adaptions to the care plan by providing insights for shared decision making and proactive patient-team communication that engages patients in their care with members of the health care team. However, to be of value, digital health tools and the resulting patient-generated health data must be integrated into clinical practice, becoming a critical part of what's done vs merely what's being added. Due to the growing evidence of the efficacy of digital health tools for improving A1c and other diabetes-related outcomes, both the 2017 National Standards for DSMES4 and the 2018 American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care5 encourage inclusion of technology-enabled solutions to deliver diabetes care and education.

DIABETES E-HEALTH ECOSYSTEM

— Source: American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) 2016 Technology Workgroup. Based on Architecture for Integrated Mobility Framework (AIM). Reprinted by permission of the AADE.

TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED SELF-MANAGEMENT FEEDBACK LOOP

— Source: Greenwood DA, Gee PM, Fatkin KJ, Peeples M. A systematic review of reviews evaluating technology-enabled diabetes self-management education and support. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2017;11(5):1015-1027. Used with permission of the AADE.

Technology-Enabled Solutions
Yet, while technology is poised to become a major part of the solution in transforming diabetes care, it remains a rapidly expanding and confusing space. The FDA is focused on digital health with an aim toward fostering innovation, allowing for rapid iterative modifications in digital health products, and streamlining the approval process (see the sidebar "The Evolving Digital Health Regulatory Environment" online for an overview of current regulatory guidance and categories in digital health). Many diabetes technology solutions offer the opportunity to track and visualize data related to daily diabetes care, regarding blood glucose management, food, physical activity, and medications. In some cases, the digital applications provide cloud-based methods of sharing data with others, including health care team members. In most cases, the technology provides minimal data analysis, interpretation, or guidance to patients.

At present, Livongo and OneDrop, two digital health solution-based companies, have received American Diabetes Association recognition or American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) accreditation to have health coaches and diabetes educators deliver a DSMES program virtually.6,7

Livongo enables users to monitor their blood glucose virtually through a connected blood glucose meter while certified diabetes educators provide real-time coaching if users experience hypo- or hyperglycemia. These virtual interactions to resolve blood glucose excursions often include additional diabetes education relevant to the individual. Educators are available on-demand to users by text or e-mail as needed.

OneDrop is a mobile app that offers in-app coaching on blood glucose management by a certified diabetes educator. The app facilitates tracking of blood glucose and diabetes self-management data and includes a digital diabetes education program.

Two other digital health solution-based companies, WellDoc and OnDuo, have licensed AADE's DSMES curriculum for integration into their digital health therapeutic and virtual diabetes clinical models.8,9

WellDoc, a digital therapeutic company, has translated the DSMES curriculum and digitized it to be delivered in an in-app diabetes education curriculum designed for people with type 2 diabetes. The digital curriculum is designed to be completed over 12 weeks, though individuals can choose to progress at their own pace.

OnDuo is a virtual diabetes clinic that provides either a connected blood glucose meter or a continuous glucose monitor to facilitate remote monitoring. It offers an app for data tracking and visualization, and virtual diabetes coaching by certified diabetes educators. Individuals can connect with their diabetes coach as needed through text or e-mail.

WellDoc's BlueStar, an FDA-cleared, clinically validated digital therapeutic for people with type 2 diabetes, falls within a category of digital health called digital therapeutics. Digital therapeutics are distinguished from health and wellness apps in that they conduct peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials to demonstrate clinical efficacy and safety of the digital therapeutic product, and in many cases they obtain FDA clearance as a mobile medical app. In addition, digital therapeutics enable users to connect with members of their care team, share personal data, and, through two-way communication, partner together to make changes as needed to their care plan. BlueStar provides automated coaching in real time that's tailored to users' treatment and self-management plans, their personal routines and preferences, and the types and timing of data they're sharing either manually or through synced wearables, apps, meters, or trackers. This allows 24/7 support to be provided during the time individuals are navigating the complexities of diabetes on their own. Individuals can share their data with their care teams on a regular schedule or as needed to support collaboration of care.

Transforming Role of RDs and Diabetes Educators
Because of ongoing technological advances, digital diabetes education and care has the potential to transform the role of dietitians. They can become leaders in redesigning care, moving from the fee-for-service approach to value-based payment, as demonstrated in integrated delivery systems, patient-centered medical homes, and accountable care organizations. Diabetes-focused dietitians/educators are the subject matter experts in diabetes care and in the use of patient-generated health data, and therefore can work with other members of the care team as mentors and leaders. Dietitians can become the distribution channel for placing evidence-based technology tools (digital therapeutics) into the hands of patients to ensure optimal use. The goal is to connect e-patients with their health care teams through a complete feedback loop to optimize diabetes self-management and treatment.

Preparing patients, dietitians, diabetes educators, and other diabetes stakeholders to operate successfully within the continuously evolving health care and technology landscape will be critical. Training is needed to identify evidence-based health technology tools, learn how to integrate these tools into practice, and learn how to use the resulting patient-generated health data to optimize individual care plans. Moreover, it will be necessary to learn how to use the population level data (ie, aggregated patient data to assess overall health status of a population) to support quality improvement and population health initiatives, such as using data to determine the right timing for clinical interventions or improving practice work flow.10

Recognizing the need to keep abreast of the latest technological advances, the AADE is launching a new online diabetes technology training and education website for its members called DANA (Diabetes Advanced Network Access), available at www.danatech.org. DANA is a hub for diabetes educators and other health care providers, as well as the industry, to come together to learn about the latest devices, medications, mobile apps, and technology-focused research so they can serve patients and caregivers more effectively. When DANA is fully released in 2018, it will include resources in four functional areas targeted at a professional health care audience: device training, resource library, education, and evolving and emerging technology. In addition, a Digital Health Learning Network was established as a collaboration between AADE and WellDoc to explore new strategies that will bring innovative tools to the practice of diabetes education and care (see the sidebar "AADE/WellDoc Diabetes Digital Health Learning Network").

Reimbursement and Payment
As the use of digital tools in diabetes care increases, more private payers within fee-for-service or value-based models of payment may cover virtually delivered DSMES services or digital health technologies. Medicare, through its Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), incentivizes remote patient care. For example, one of the 93 MIPS Improvement Activities is the use of digital tools to monitor patient-generated health data with clinically endorsed tools that include an active feedback loop that in turn provides actionable information to patients or their health care providers.11

As of 2018, Medicare "unbundled" an existing Part B CPT code, 99091, and has begun to pay separately for remote patient monitoring done by qualified providers (eg, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists). Providers can be paid approximately $58 for a cumulative time of 30 minutes per month to review biometric data the patient and/or caregiver digitally transmits and communicate the findings and care plan recommendations to the patient and/or caregiver. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is working on getting RDs designated as qualified providers. Learn more about CPT code 99091 at www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM10393.pdf.

Bright Future
Technology is transforming health care, including diabetes management. Opportunities are here for practices, health care systems, dietitians, diabetes educators, and other members of the health care team to expand and leverage these tools to improve diabetes outcomes for patients. Diabetes-focused dietitians, with their extensive experience in the practical use of patient-generated health data, patient-centered diabetes care, and self-management training, are uniquely positioned to lead in integrating evidence-based technology tools into clinical practice. The time is now.

— Janice MacLeod, MA, RDN, CDE, FAADE, began her career as a diabetes dietitian for Carilion Health System in Virginia and more recently served at the University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Baltimore. MacLeod also worked for many years at Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Care, and has served as both author and editor for multiple publications. She has contributed to book and curriculum manuals on diabetes and has developed numerous education programs and presentations in the areas of diabetes nutrition, glucose monitoring, digital health, and practice transformation.

* The author reports the following relevant disclosure: She serves as director of clinical innovation at WellDoc, a digital health company in Columbia, Maryland. In her role, she works with health care teams, bringing technology to clinical practice.

References
1. Gaglio B, Shoup JA, Glasgow RE. The RE-AIM framework: a systematic review of use over time. Am J Public Health. 2013;103(6):e38-46.

2. Kaufman ND, Woodley PDP. Self-management support interventions that are clinically linked and technology enabled: can they successfully prevent and treat diabetes? J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2011;5(3):798-803.

3. Greenwood DA, Gee PM, Fatkin KJ, Peeples M. A systematic review of reviews evaluating technology-enabled diabetes self-management education and support. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2017;11(5):1015-1027.

4. Beck J, Greenwood DA, Blanton L, et al. 2017 national standards for diabetes self-management education and support. Diabetes Educ. 2017;43(5):449-464.

5. American Diabetes Association. Lifestyle management: Standards of medical care in diabetes — 2018. Diabetes Care. 2018;41(Suppl 1):S38-S50.

6. One Drop | Experts becomes the first digital diabetes education program recognized by the American Diabetes Association. One Drop website. http://onedrop.today/2017/04/18/one-drop-experts-becomes-the-first-digital-diabetes-education-program-recognized-by-the-american-diabetes-association/. Published April 18, 2017. Accessed April 24, 2018.

7. Pennic F. Livongo for Diabetes named first telehealth program to receive AADE accreditation. HIT Consultant website. http://hitconsultant.net/2015/08/05/livongo-diabetes-first-telehealth-program-aade-accreditation/. Published August 5, 2015. Accessed April 24, 2018.

8. WellDoc, American Association of Diabetes Educators. WellDoc and AADE partner to incorporate AADE diabetes self-management education curriculum into the BlueStar digital therapeutic platform. https://www.welldoc.com/images/uploads/WellDoc_AADE_PressRelease_FINAL.pdf. Accessed April 24, 2018.

9. Levine B, Brown A. Onduo delivers diabetes clinic and coaching to your smartphone. diaTribe website. https://diatribe.org/onduo-delivers-diabetes-clinic-and-coaching-your-smartphone. Published March 12, 2018. Accessed April 24, 2018.

10. MacLeod J, Peeples M. Are you ready to be an eEducator? AADE in Practice. 2017;5(5):30-35.

11. Improvement activities requirements. Quality Payment Program website. https://qpp.cms.gov/mips/improvement-activities. Accessed April 24, 2018.