A new diabetes app for children and young people is now live across all 14 NHS Scotland health boards, delivering vital support to the 4,500 young Scots living with Type 1 diabetes.
The DigiBete app—offering age-appropriate resources in more than 100 languages—is now supporting over 3,000 people in Scotland.
Led by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), the nationwide rollout marks a major step toward standardised diabetes education across the country.
Funded by the Scottish Government until July 2026, the app aims to empower and support patients and families to self-manage their condition whilst reducing pressure on NHS services.
Dr Robbie Lyndsay, National Diabetes Lead, NHS Scotland, said: “As clinicians, we are keen to try to provide timely, convenient information to people with diabetes. From discussion with paediatricians in Scotland they have been delighted to see this innovative approach and value future use of DigiBete.”
The app offers educational videos, quizzes, and resources in over 100 languages, making it accessible to families from diverse backgrounds. The content automatically adapts as children mature, ensuring comprehensive support from diagnosis through to young adulthood.
Data from the initial pilot phase showed that 100% of clinicians surveyed wanted to continue using the platform, citing significant time savings as they no longer needed to create individual educational resources. Parents and young people praised the app’s accessibility and the reassurance it provided, particularly during critical transition periods such as moving from paediatric to adult care services.
Michelle Brogan, who leads the diabetes portfolio at DHI, said: “DigiBete App puts families and young people living with Diabetes more in control of their own health – giving them the knowledge and confidence to help manage their diabetes independently.
“This is exactly the kind of person-centred digital solution that shifts care towards prevention and self-management, which is at the heart of what DHI does. We have seen a fantastic response from the Clinical community in Scotland and look forward to working together to expand its reach.”
Niomi, mum of five-year-old Faith from Glasgow, discovered the DigiBete app when her daughter was newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.
She said: “When Faith was diagnosed earlier this year, I was overwhelmed by how much I didn’t know. There’s so much to understand about managing Type 1 Diabetes, and the information I was given at diagnosis is only the start. What I love about the DigiBete app is that it’s become my go-to resource.
“I check it all the time for information, advice, and reassurance. It’s given me access to updated, reliable information exactly when I need it – whether it’s about managing blood sugars, sick days, or just understanding what’s happening with Faith’s condition. It’s made a real difference in how confident I feel managing her diabetes day to day.”
For Emily, aged 20 from Kinloss in Moray, the app has been particularly transformative.
Diagnosed at 10 years old, she has spent a decade navigating Type 1 Diabetes.
She said: “When I was diagnosed, I didn’t understand any of it, and the information dump of different leaflets and handouts was massive. School was really hard because nobody, not even the teachers, really understood diabetes. Growing up, me and my mum have had to figure so much out on our own. The DigiBete app has been brilliant because it gives me practical tools and information that’s actually relevant to me in one place. I’m hopeful it will help me finally get my blood sugars to where they should be.”
