A digital self-management platform for people with type 2 diabetes has been associated with improved clinical outcomes and could reduce long-term healthcare costs, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Manchester. The findings suggest that digital tools may play an increasingly important role in supporting patients while helping healthcare systems cope with the growing burden of chronic disease.
The study evaluated MyWay Diabetes, an NHS-supported online platform and mobile app that enables people with type 2 diabetes to access their personal health records, monitor key clinical results and follow educational courses and self-management advice. The platform was introduced across Greater Manchester during the COVID-19 pandemic, when routine diabetes care was significantly disrupted. Researchers followed 507 MyWay Diabetes users for up to two years and compared their outcomes with those of more than 10,000 similar patients who did not use the platform.
Improvements in blood glucose control
The analysis found that people using MyWay Diabetes experienced clinically significant improvements in blood glucose control, alongside reductions in systolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels. According to the researchers, these combined improvements are important because they are all associated with a lower risk of long-term diabetes complications. Lead author Dr. Rathi Ravindrarajah said the findings demonstrate the value of digital support for people managing a complex chronic condition. "Managing type 2 diabetes requires people to make complex day-to-day decisions about their health. Our findings suggest that accessible digital tools such as MyWay Diabetes can support people in improving important risk factors linked to long-term diabetes complications."
She also noted that the platform continued to deliver measurable benefits despite being introduced during one of the most challenging periods for healthcare delivery. "MyWay Diabetes was even able to provide benefits to a real-world population during a particularly challenging period for health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic." Unlike many other digital diabetes interventions, MyWay Diabetes connects directly to NHS primary care records. This integration allows users to view personalised clinical information alongside educational resources within a single platform.
Potential for long-term savings
Beyond clinical outcomes, the research also evaluated the economic impact of the platform. According to lead health economist Luke Paterson, relatively small improvements across large patient populations could translate into meaningful healthcare savings over time. "Our analysis suggests digital diabetes self-management support can deliver health benefits at relatively low cost, and may even reduce long-term NHS spending. Even modest improvements in blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol across large populations can translate into meaningful reductions in future diabetes-related complications."
Senior author Professor Martin Rutter believes digital self-management technologies will become increasingly important as healthcare systems face rising demand from chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes." Digital self-management tools are likely to become increasingly important as health systems face growing pressures from long-term conditions such as type 2 diabetes." He added that the simultaneous improvements in glucose control, blood pressure and cholesterol are particularly encouraging because, at population level, they may help reduce diabetes-related complications while offering good value for healthcare systems operating under financial pressure.
Further validation needed
The researchers caution that the study was observational rather than a randomized clinical trial, meaning it cannot definitively establish a causal relationship between platform use and improved outcomes. Nevertheless, they argue that the large real-world dataset strengthens confidence in the findings and demonstrates how digital self-management support can be successfully implemented within routine clinical care. The team recommends further evaluation of MyWay Diabetes in broader and more diverse UK populations to determine whether similar benefits can be achieved across different demographic groups and healthcare settings.
As healthcare providers increasingly look to digital solutions to improve chronic disease management, the findings suggest that integrated patient platforms such as MyWay Diabetes may not only empower individuals to take a more active role in managing their condition but also contribute to more sustainable healthcare delivery.
AI-driven diabetes care
In 2025, researchers at the University at Buffalo concluded through a comprehensive meta-review that AI-powered wearables could significantly improve the management of Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. The review analyzed 60 high-quality studies involving continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), activity trackers and multimodal biosensors. AI enables continuous glucose monitoring, identifies trends and can predict glucose fluctuations up to two hours in advance, supporting earlier intervention. According to the researchers, these technologies can improve glycemic control, personalize lifestyle recommendations and reduce clinicians' workload by filtering large volumes of health data.
However, important challenges remain before widespread clinical adoption is possible. Many AI models still lack transparency, study populations are often small and insufficiently diverse, and issues related to data quality, integration into clinical workflows, affordability and accessibility must be addressed. Despite these limitations, the researchers conclude that AI-enhanced wearables have the potential to shift diabetes care from reactive treatment toward proactive prevention.
