Shift from physician-driven care to patient-managed self monitoring and care for chronic diseases related to metabolic disorders

Dealing with a chronic disease and, more specifically, with Diabetes Mellitus and other metabolic disorders, represents a great challenge for care givers, patients and the Health Care Systems as their treatment requires continuous medical care and patient self management. The engagement of patients in the adoption of healthy lifestyles with a positive impact in the progression of their diseases is fundamental to avoid the appearance of chronic complications or co-morbidities. This paper presents the shift towards a patient self-managed care as a promising first step towards the solution of the difficulties that the European Health Systems are facing to handle Diabetes Mellitus, a disease that has already reached epidemic proportions worldwide.