The S'ANT Approach to Facilitate a Superior Chronic Disease Self-Management Model

Background

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood because the body is not producing insulin or not using insulin properly (DA, 2007).

Diabetes management involves a combination of both medical and non-medical approaches with the overall goal for the patient to enjoy a life which is as normal as possible (AIHW, 2008; AIHW, 2007). Critical to this management regimen is the systematic monitoring of blood sugar levels. However, as there is no cure for diabetes, achieving this goal can be challenging because it requires effective lifestyle management and careful and meticulous attention and monitoring by the patient and health professionals (Britt, 2007). In particular, to be totally successful, this requires patients to be both informed and active in their treatment regimen. A solution is therefore required which provides the possibility for “anytime anywhere” monitoring of an individual’s diabetes, thereby contributing to diabetes management. In response to this, this chapter suggests the application of a pervasive technology solution in the form of a wireless-enabled mobile phone to facilitate superior diabetes management.