Smartpumps: a negotiated relative advantage?

Significant improvements in smart healthcare are only possible if a multidisciplinary approach is taken to the design, implementation, and application of technology in their respective social context. Pregnant women living with type 1 diabetes (PWT1D) face a series of challenges including ongoing management of diet and physical activity, continued delivery and adjustment of insulin doses. These women often feel socially and geographically isolated, due to the rarity of their condition, the paucity of accurate personal healthcare information, and the demands of a high-risk pregnancy. ITenabled smartpumps which allow information to be shared between women with type 1 diabetes and their healthcare team, are one possible solution to this problem. This paper highlights the adoption and application of IT-enabled smartpumps by PWT1D. Using a Cross Community Information Systems (CCIS) approach we examine some of the benefits and drawbacks of smartpumps from the perspective of a range of stakeholders associated with the health and wellbeing of PWT1D and their unborn children. Ultimately we argue that with a considered approach to their adoption and use smartpumps provide an effective tool for ongoing support and collaboration within the healthcare team.