title: Digital games for type 1 and type 2 diabetes: underpinning theory with three illustrative examples.
abstract: Digital games are an important class of eHealth interventions in diabetes, made possible by the Internet and a good range of affordable mobile devices (eg, mobile phones and tablets) available to consumers these days. Gamifying disease management can help children, adolescents, and adults with diabetes to better cope with their lifelong condition. Gamification and social in-game components are used to motivate players/patients and positively change their behavior and lifestyle. In this paper, we start by presenting the main challenges facing people with diabetes-children/adolescents and adults-from a clinical perspective, followed by three short illustrative examples of mobile and desktop game apps and platforms designed by Ayogo Health, Inc. (Vancouver, BC, Canada) for type 1 diabetes (one example) and type 2 diabetes (two examples). The games target different age groups with different needs-children with type 1 diabetes versus adults with type 2 diabetes. The paper is not meant to be an exhaustive review of all digital game offerings available for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but rather to serve as a taster of a few of the game genres on offer today for both types of diabetes, with a brief discussion of (1) some of the underpinning psychological mechanisms of gamified digital interventions and platforms as self-management adherence tools, and more, in diabetes, and (2) some of the hypothesized potential benefits that might be gained from their routine use by people with diabetes. More research evidence from full-scale evaluation studies is needed and expected in the near future that will quantify, qualify, and establish the evidence base concerning this gamification potential, such as what works in each age group/patient type, what does not, and under which settings and criteria.
authors: The Alexander Graham Bell Centre for Digital Health, Moray College UHI, University of the Highlands and Islands, Elgin, United Kingdom. maged.kamelboulos@uhi.ac.uk.
authors: Maged N
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2400-6303
authors: MN
authors: Kamel Boulos
authors: Shauna
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0438-7551
authors: S
authors: Gammon
authors: Mavis C
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9079-0250
authors: MC
authors: Dixon
authors: Sandra M
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7599-1302
authors: SM
authors: MacRury
authors: Michael J
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9085-0751
authors: MJ
authors: Fergusson
authors: Francisco
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1603-0231
authors: F
authors: Miranda Rodrigues
authors: Telmo
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4577-841X
authors: T
authors: Mourinho Baptista
authors: Stephen P
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6282-4852
authors: SP
authors: Yang
keywords: diabetes mellitus; self-care; video games