Diabetes is a chronic condition, which can in most cases be managed but not completely cured. As such, the central issue both for sufferers and the health system is to find sustainable (and cost-effective) ways to manage the disease into the long term.
Despite the excellent care and support services offered by Bolton NHS, including dedicated facilities such as the Bolton Diabetes Centre, many patients within the community find it difficult to make the lifestyle changes and carry out the self-medication necessary to manage the condition effectively and avoid the onset of further, more severe complications in the future.
The Open Health project, driven by a team of designers, policy thinkers and social scientists from the Design Council, aimed to harness the principles of design-led innovation and focus on the user – in this case, the diabetes sufferer – to help transform diabetes care. This approach aimed to encourage individuals to take control of their own condition management, as well as helping to develop more effective communication channels between patients and their healthcare providers.
