A new app developed in Western Australia is set to transform how families manage type 1 diabetes. The DiabHQ Patient Portal, launched by the Rio Tinto Children’s Diabetes Centre on World Diabetes Day, aims to help over 1,200 children in WA living with the condition, as well as the 150 new cases diagnosed each year.
The app consolidates health data including clinical records, pathology results, glucose levels, and appointment details. It also provides information on nutrition and insulin dosages to help manage the lifelong condition. The centre is run out of The Kids Research Institute Australia and Perth Children’s Hospital.
For families like that of 11-year-old Jack Johnston, diagnosed at age seven, the app reduces stress. His mother Danae Johnston said the initial diagnosis was overwhelming, but the app now eases the mental load by providing resources and tracking progress. “It means that we’ve got access to whatever we need — we are not waiting three months for the clinic to discuss issues now,” she said.
Professor Liz Davis, director of the centre and head of diabetes and endocrinology at PCH, said the app helps families make sense of the vast amount of data from glucose sensors and insulin pumps. “Our goal is for these families to live happy, healthy lives and reduce the stress and burden for them,” she said. The portal also allows clinicians to quickly understand patient needs and researchers to recruit for trials more efficiently.
The app was made possible with support from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and Rio Tinto.
