New Steps4Health app for long-term conditions launched ahead of global diabetes campaign
Personalised physical activity support to help manage diabetes and other long-term conditions has been shared in the new Steps4Health web app created by the Leicester Diabetes Centre.
Steps4Health aims to provide a personalised walking programme with continued feedback and progression, based on the latest research and designed specifically for people with long-term health conditions.
Steps4Health provides advice, information and feedback on walking speed, physical activity intensity, and sleep, to improve overall quality of life and support an active lifestyle.
Steps4Health has been developed by the Leicester Lifestyle and Health Research Group at the Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC).
The LDC team undertakes ground-breaking research, harnessing diet and movement behaviours across the 24-hour day as therapies in the prevention and management of long-term conditions, including diabetes. The team’s research in this area has changed and improved international guidance on physical activity and long-term conditions.
Professor Melanie Davies CBE, co-founder of the LDC at Leicester General Hospital, said: “We should all be aware of what a difference a day makes when talking about our activity levels. We know that regular exercise is very important for people living with type 2 diabetes. However, it is also important we understand that all our behaviours over the course a day have an impact.
“Over 24-hours, activities usually include sitting, sleeping, walking and exercising, and all of these activities affect our health.”
Steps4Health launches for select user testing on World Diabetes Day, which takes place on Monday, November 14. Details can be found on the events section of World Diabetes Day website, where details of how to sign up are provided.
Steps4Health will focus on ability-specific tailoring for stepping, the number of workouts and reducing sedentary behaviours such as sitting, to support people of all different mobility levels.
Notifications personalised to the individual user will tailor their user experience while monitoring progression. In addition, access to competitions and awards help motivate users whilst building an online community.
LDC is led by Co-Directors Professor Davies CBE and Professor Kamlesh Khunti CBE. Hosted at Leicester General Hospital, the Centre is a partnership between the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the University of Leicester.
The Centre has a national and international reputation for clinical care that is underpinned by innovative and world-leading clinical research. A wide range of research studies have been implemented by the LDC, focusing on the areas of early detection, prevention, structured education and new therapies, along with teaching and training for both people living with long-term conditions and their healthcare professionals. The results of these studies have had an impact on local NHS policies, Department of Health programmes and NICE guidance.
The world-renowned, multi-disciplinary research team based at the LDC is also leading the way by providing the evidence behind their education programmes and widening the knowledge base for health and disease management. This includes creating education programmes for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals in the prevention and management of diabetes, as well as a suite of programmes supporting other long-term, related conditions.
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Steps4Health launches for select user testing on World Diabetes Day. User experience feedback is integral to the process – if you would like to register your interest, please email: LDCimplementation@uhl-tr.nhs.uk.