Digital technologies for the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes distress: A review of current evidence

Abstract

Diabetes distress is defined as the emotional response to living with diabetes and the burden of intensive self-management. Despite the high prevalence of diabetes distress globally and across different populations, diabetes distress remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in both primary care and specialty settings. However, diabetes distress is highly responsive to clinical attention. Emerging evidence suggests that digital interventions such as mobile phone applications, comprehensive telehealth interventions, and artificial intelligence can provide accessible, personalized, and effective support for individuals experiencing diabetes distress. The purpose of this review is to present the latest evidence on assessing, diagnosing, and treating diabetes distress, with an emphasis on the role of digital technologies. By leveraging digital interventions and prioritizing routine screening, healthcare systems can enhance support for individuals with diabetes, ultimately improving both psychological well-being and clinical outcomes. Mobile phone applications are the most preferred digital intervention, in both older adult populations as well as adolescents and young adults, offering an effective tool for both assessing and treating diabetes distress. TunedIn, a mobile phone application grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy, reduced diabetes distress by approximately 50 % while improving HbA1c, emphasizing the theoretical foundation of diabetes distress as an emotional response to living with diabetes. Comprehensive telehealth solutions have also been shown to be feasible, reducing diabetes distress and improving glycemic outcomes at a reasonable cost without utilizing additional staffing resources. Overall, digital health solutions present a scalable and effective approach to mitigating diabetes distress. However, successful integration into clinical practice requires addressing implementation barriers, improving accessibility, and ensuring culturally tailored interventions. Future research should refine these technologies and explore long-term impacts, with the goal of enhancing both psychological well-being and diabetes management outcomes.