Digital twin technologies for supporting self-care in adults with diet-related chronic conditions: a systematic review
Abstract
Background: Diet-related chronic conditions are major contributors to global morbidity and mortality. Effective management of these conditions requires consistent engagement in self-care behaviours such as healthy eating, physical activity, and medication adherence. However, behavioural interventions often lack personalisation, limiting their impact, whereas digital twin (DT) systems, which use digital technologies to generate real-time representations of individuals, offer the potential to support people through adaptive and patient-centred approaches by integrating health data to personalise and optimise self-care strategies.
Objective: A systematic review was conducted to synthesise and evaluate the use of DT for supporting self-care behaviours among adults with diet-related chronic conditions METHODS: Five electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and IEEE Xplore) were searched from inception to 31 July 2025. Studies including adults with diet-related chronic conditions, using DT interventions, and reporting changes in self-care maintenance, monitoring, or management were eligible.
Results: Of 3,685 records identified, four studies (N = 2,662) met the inclusion criteria, all focusing on type 2 diabetes. All four studies used continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and three additionally used wearable devices and dietary logs integrated with AI-driven DT platforms to provide personalised feedback and recommendations, often alongside human coaching. Two…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 2,662 participants or records.
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