Improving Care for People Living With Dementia and Diabetes: Applying the Human-Centered Design Process to Continuous Glucose Monitoring.

People with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias and diabetes mellitus (ADRD-DM) are at high risk for hypoglycemic events. Their cognitive impairment and psychosocial situation often hinder detection of hypoglycemia. Extending use and benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to people with ADRD-DM could improve hypoglycemia detection, inform care, and reduce adverse events. However, cognitive impairment associated with ADRD presents unique challenges for CGM use. This commentary proposes applying the human-centered design process to CGM, investigating design solutions or interventions needed to integrate CGM into the health care of patients with ADRD-DM. With this process, we can identify and inform CGM designs for people with ADRD-DM, broadening CGM access, increasing detection and treatment of the silent threat posed by hypoglycemia.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Michael Weiner reports stock ownership in AbbVie Inc, Amgen Inc, Boston Scientific Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, IBM, Integer Holdings Corp, Johnson & Johnson, Mallinckrodt PLC, Mead Johnson & Company, LLC, Medtronic, Mylan N.V., Novo Nordisk A/S, Perspecta Inc, Pfizer Inc, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Senseonics, Stryker Corp, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Rich Holden provides paid scientific advising to Cook Medical. April Savoy reports stock ownership in Pfizer Inc. and GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) Plc. David Klonoff is a consultant to Eoflow, Fractyl Health, Lifecare, Integrity, Rockley Photonics, and Thirdwayv. All other authors report no conflicts of interest.