Design Concepts for Digital Diabetes Practice: Design to Explore, Share, and Camouflage Chronic Illness

Anne Marie Kanstrup

This paper examines design of digital support for people living with chronic diabetes. It identifies three design concepts for digital diabetes practice. These were developed during a four-year research project investigating everyday life activities related to diabetes. Social learning theory frames the conceptualisation of how to understand and design for diabetes practice. The focus on the practice of chronic illness addresses the need to re-think digital health technology and expands possible solutions beyond the medical condition itself. The study shows the importance of attention to everyday practice and contributes a conceptual understanding of the tensions between medical ideals and the everyday lives of people with chronic illness.