Claire Marriott, Medical Affairs Lead EMEA–LATAM, Roche Diagnostics, explores how the daily realities of living with diabetes continue to impact mental wellbeing and why predictive, AI-driven technologies could play a critical role in improving confidence, control and long-term outcomes.
For the 589 million adults currently living with diabetes, managing glucose levels is a matter of daily decision-making. Diabetes is a condition that never sleeps, demanding constant attention to maintain blood glucose levels in target range while everyday activities contribute to the highs and lows. Meal timings, medication schedules, a high-pressure meeting, illness, hormones and even the weather can all impact blood glucose levels. Planning ahead can be complex and tiring. Proactive management of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia can be a challenge. A day that does not go according to plan can be particularly difficult to manage. Even during the hours of rest, diabetes remains active, often causing disruption to sleep or anxiety around blood glucose levels through the night.
While treatments have come a long way for people with diabetes, the unpredictability of this condition continues to impact daily freedom and contribute to mental and emotional strain. This is confirmed by our recent survey of 4,326 people living with diabetes across 22 countries. Findings revealed that even with current diabetes management solutions, the mental burden of the condition can create a barrier to daily life.
A 24/7 task that impacts mental wellbeing and daily freedom
Diabetes and its management significantly affect emotional wellbeing, as reported by 66% of respondents – a figure that climbs to 77% for those with Type 1 diabetes. The ‘unpredictable’ challenge is highlighted by over 60% of surveyed people with diabetes reporting reduced confidence that their day will go as planned, rising to 70% for those living with Type 1.
Diabetes can touch multiple facets of a person’s day. For many, this includes energy levels, as 71% of respondents report often feeling tired due to their diabetes, with 55% stating that the condition negatively impacts their ability to fall asleep. Approximately half of respondents (51%) find it challenging to navigate unexpected schedule shifts, such as being stuck in traffic or meetings that run over. Additionally, diabetes may limit their ability to be spontaneous with last-minute social invitations, as reported by 54% of respondents. Daily activities are also affected with over half of respondents stating that diabetes negatively impacts their ability to exercise (57%) and manage household chores and childcare (55%).
For healthcare providers, this survey illuminates the daily challenges of living with diabetes; giving valuable insights into the potential burden many experience. Understanding the reality of diabetes burnout, overwhelm and the cognitive load is a key element in providing support for self-management and to help reduce the risk of diabetes-associated complications.
The call for predictive technology
Our data reveals a significant confidence gap in managing diabetes that current technology has yet to close, with only one in three respondents feeling very confident in how they currently manage their condition. This lack of confidence is not a patient or healthcare professional failure, but an opportunity for innovation that addresses specific challenges of diabetes. It highlights that the next stage of our solutions must move beyond simply showing a person with diabetes where they are, to showing them where they are going, allowing them to react ahead of time and reduce anxiety.
But what kind of solutions do patients want? Eight in ten respondents would value predictive tools that can, for example, forecast glucose changes before they occur. This signals a fundamental shift in the expectations of people with diabetes, moving beyond just reporting the current status and towards prediction. For us, the mandate is to evolve beyond Continuous Glucose Monitoring technology that provides current and past glucose data to solutions that provide foresight. Solutions that could shift the burden of overwhelm and decision-making away from the person living with diabetes.
Prediction has the potential to enhance confidence in diabetes management, as 46% of respondents believe they would feel more in control if they could see trends before they turned into clinical problems. Prediction could provide not only an emotional benefit but an impact on clinical outcomes too. Empowering people with diabetes to see their upcoming glucose levels may reduce hypoglycaemia and improve time in range.
Shifting from observation to anticipation
Listening to the voices of people with diabetes is essential for us to understand their perspective, including the challenges they are currently facing and expectations for new solutions. Our survey highlights the need for smarter diabetes management tools that leverage AI to move beyond simple data reporting to providing actionable, forward-looking insights. By investing in and implementing predictive technology, we hope to better meet the needs of people living with diabetes, reduce their mental burden and help mitigate the rising global challenge of diabetes.
As we look ahead, diabetes prevalence is expected to rise by 46% by 2050, affecting one in eight adults globally. Diabetes technology has evolved and with this we have seen improvements for people living with diabetes. The real-time data that Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) solutions provide offers a clear benefit over finger-prick blood glucose monitoring. However, users are still required to analyse their own data and make quick, reactive decisions. Predictive technology can support that analytical burden and provide insights to allow more proactive diabetes management. By providing insights that support flexibility and peace of mind, we can contribute to a personalised diabetes management approach that considers the mental burden of diabetes as well as the physical.
