mHealth and health information technology tools to enhance diabetes health and healthcare management have proliferated rapidly, including websites, mobile phone applications, texting or interactive voice response phone calls, remote monitoring devices/sensors, and technologies linked to electronic health records. Many studies have demonstrated that the additional communication and support provided by such technologies can improve outcomes like patient confidence, self-management, quality of life, and even health outcomes like glycemic control.

However, emerging evidence reveals a digital divide, with lower use of these technologies by racial/ethnic minority groups or those who have limited health literacy. These differences can be influenced but are not solely driven, by access to computers/Internet. In addition, few studies report on the usability of existing technologies among a diverse group of end users, such as ensuring that the participants vary in their technological proficiency, income, or educational attainment.

This special issue will provide crucial evidence about the design, testing, or implementation of mHealth or health information technology platforms for diverse patients with diabetes. (i) User-centered design studies to create technologies for diverse patients. (ii) Protocols to recruit and retain diverse patients in diabetes technology studies. (iii) Case studies of new methodological approaches to provide evidence about technology-based interventions for diverse patients. (iv) Studies adapting or testing existing diabetes technologies for diverse patient populations or healthcare settings.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Communication barriers—health literacy and language barriers can inhibit healthcare delivery, as well as a lack of patient information
• Infrastructure barriers—rural hospitals and community health centers may not have the same resources and expertise of large hospitals and may not be able to afford advanced medical technologies
• Economic barriers—lack of insurance coverage or financial resources may also contribute to disparities in healthcare access
• Cultural barriers—religious beliefs and social customs often deter certain populations from seeking healthcare
• Physical barriers—factors such as proximity to healthcare facilities and transportation may limit access to healthcare