Preventing diabetic foot ulcers with eHealth: Rethinking digital care in co-design

The number of people with diabetes is projected to increase over the up-coming years, putting pressure on care systems. Many patients with diabetes are at high risk of developing foot ulcers. These patients often struggle to relate to and mon-itor the health of their feet in everyday life. While eHealth technologies show promise in supporting self-management of diabetes, their use is still limited in the context of diabetic feet. By following a design process using co-design practices, we developed a suitable eHealth application that supports people in preventing diabetic foot compli-cations. Through a participatory design approach, we uncovered 11 design require-ments highlighting the importance of offering digital support when possible but enabling physical care when needed. We argue for a technology-supported culture of care through simplified self-monitoring and direct contact with care professionals. Finally, we discuss implications for designing eHealth solutions by involving all relevant stake-holders.