Investigating the needs of older adults with type 2 diabetes and conceptualizing a healthy diet management application: a conceptual design.

Background: The growing prevalence of diabetes among the older adults has made effective dietary management essential for controlling blood glucose levels and reducing complications. In the age of the Internet of Things (IoT), smart applications and product designs are increasingly recognized as valuable tools for supporting personalized health management and enhancing quality of life. However, most existing mobile health solutions fail to accommodate the specific cognitive and physical needs of older adults with type 2 diabetes. This study aims to explore these unique needs to inform the development of a healthy diet compliance solution tailored to this population.

Methods: A qualitative interview approach was employed to investigate the dietary management needs, behaviors, and technological preferences of older adults users. Twelve older adults with type 2 diabetes, aged 60 to 74 years (average age 66.7), participated in interviews conducted at a government hospital. Data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti software to identify key themes, which informed the conceptual design of a targeted healthy diet management application.

Results: The findings highlight five critical areas for diabetes care in older adults: diabetes knowledge, glucose monitoring, diet planning, physical activity. Based on these insights, a conceptual app prototype was developed, featuring educational content, simplified glucose tracking tools, personalised meal planning, and integration with activity monitoring. The app design prioritises accessibility, incorporating elderly-friendly elements such as large text, camera picture assistance, and intuitive navigation.

Conclusions: This study highlights the potential of tailored mobile applications to support older adults with type 2 diabetes in managing their health more effectively. The proposed application design responds directly to the specific usability needs of this demographic. Future work should include iterative prototyping and user testing to enhance usability and assess real-world impact.