Type 2 Diabetes: The Patient Journey
Description:
The Problem
Managing Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) is a growing challenge in the Netherlands, with rising costs and a large population at risk. Policymakers and health professionals need better tools to understand the patient journey and the long-term impact of lifestyle interventions on both individuals and society. Without a clear model, it’s difficult to predict the effectiveness of these programs or their financial implications.
The Challenge
The main challenge was developing a detailed simulation that included data on diabetes, population statistics, lifestyle interventions, and their associated costs. The goal was to predict the real costs and benefits of future interventions and provide insights into their effectiveness1.
The Approach
At the heart of the model is its ability to simulate the outcomes of different lifestyle interventions. This allowed us to see how effective each program might be in managing diabetes. The paper also highlighted the need for an adaptive approach. This approach evolves over time as new data is collected. The new data is used to fine-tune intervention strategies1.
Results
The model became the foundation for the ‘Network Approach’ project and is now being refined by TNO’s Work Health Technology team. It has also played a key role in securing funding for ongoing research.
Thoughts
This project reinforced the need for a flexible model that can evolve with better data. It also demonstrated the importance of a holistic approach to tackling diabetes, combining medical, lifestyle, and cost factors.
Role(s)
• Rebuilt a Master’s thesis model.
• Held discussions with stakeholders on T2DM.
• Handled the model’s quantification and parameterization.
• Developed a Visual User Interface using Stella Architect.
Cliënt:
TNO, Lifestyle4health
Project duration:
3 months
Papers / Posters:
Sluijs, T., Lokkers, L., Özsezen, S., Veldhuis, G. A., & Wortelboer, H. M. (2021). An innovative approach for decision-making on designing lifestyle programs to reduce type 2 diabetes on dutch population level using dynamic simulations. Frontiers in public health, 9, 652694 1
ArtsenLeefstijl Congress poster presentation
Personalised Nutrition and Health Congress poster presentation
“The T2DM patient journey. Boxes are stocks that accumulate over time, double arrows are in- or outflows that either give input or take output of the stock. Circles are variables that affect the in- or outflows, containing parameter values. Clouds are outputs that “flow out of the system” like deaths. The process is visualized from green (healthy) to orange (likely to develop T2DM) to red (developed T2DM), with multiple possibilities to bounce back in the system to “healthy” (green arrows). The system contains the differential equations as described in section The Construction of the T2DM Patient Journey Model.” 1 “Simulated change in (A) the total cost for society associated with T2DM population and (B) the total T2DM under five different scenarios tested, which are activated in 2020.” 1 “Hypothesized intervention scenarios and their parameter values used in scenario simulation.” 1 “A schematic overview of the total costs of T2DM in The Netherlands as incorporated in the model. The figure follows the logic: from the portion of the Dutch population that has T2DM, in whichever way that fits for the equation (red), multiple costs to society are calculated via multiplications (*) and cumulations (+). Blue = costs for Dutch authorities, orange = costs for the financial health care sector, green = costs for the employer, yellow = total costs for management of DM, and gray = total costs of other lifestyle programs.” 1
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