Highlighting studies that underscore how digital technology innovations enable improved self-management, personalized treatments, and seamless communication between patients and healthcare providers, the editorial was authored by Dr. Gang Hu and Dr. Yun Shen of Pennington Biomedical and Dr. Xiantong Zou of Peking University.

“Digital tools offer unprecedented opportunities to improve patient outcomes through better monitoring, individualized care, and more efficient communication between patients and healthcare providers,” the authors wrote.

Digital health tools promise to make diabetes care more accessible, effective, and adaptable to patients’ individual needs. Advancements in wearable devices, mobile applications, and telemedicine can support patient self-management, personalize treatment, and improve health outcomes. The editorial addresses key challenges with these technologies, including data privacy and accessibility, and encourages ongoing research and development in this promising field.

“As the field advances, digital health innovations are poised to play an increasingly critical role in the prevention and management of diabetes, paving the way for more efficient and equitable healthcare delivery,” the authors concluded.

Dr. Hu is professor and director of the Chronic Disease Epidemiology Laboratory, and Dr. Shen is assistant professor-research in chronic disease epidemiology at Pennington Biomedical. Dr. Zou is attending physician and associate professor at Peking University People’s Hospital.

“This editorial provides insight into the pivotal role digital technologies are playing in our everyday lives, and especially how these technologies can be used in disease management and treatments,” said Dr. John Kirwan, executive director of Pennington Biomedical. “The work being done by Dr. Shen and Dr. Hu here at Pennington Biomedical, in partnership with colleagues across the globe showcases the collaborative mindset of Pennington Biomedical and the commitment we have to advance healthcare through innovative research.”

For more the full editorial on “Digital technology in the management and prevention of diabetes,” visit https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1511236/fu

Editorial Stance: Building on Terrence McDonald and colleagues’ research, which distinguishes between the continuity contributions of a practice and an individual clinician, increased physician continuity has been linked to reduced emergency department usage for all patients and lower hospitalization for those with higher patient complexity. Notably, patients consistently seeing their regular family physician or a partner at the same practice had the best health outcomes. The author notes that this evidence is crucial and points to practical solutions that increase physician awareness of continuity’s benefits and underscore the relationship between continuity and key health outcomes.

Why It Matters: Gradual benefits of improved continuity suggest that solutions don’t have to be all-or-nothing but can come from various strategies that together enhance overall care. Possible improvements include ‘buddy’ systems among doctors, the use of e-health options, and focused training for family physician trainees on delivering continuity of care. These methods represent stepwise changes that can collectively improve continuity of care.

The Wall of Evidence for Continuity of Care: How Many More Bricks Do We Need?

Otto R. Maarsingh, MD, PhD

Department of General Practice, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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