Rethinking Chronic Care: Making Treatment Fit Patients’ Real Lives

During the TIME100 Health Leadership Forum in New York, industry leaders and advocates convened to discuss a fundamental shift in chronic care: moving beyond clinical metrics to design health solutions that integrate seamlessly into patients’ daily routines.

Garrett Vogel, an on-air host and Type 1 diabetes advocate, opened the conversation with a harrowing personal anecdote. At age 11, he was misdiagnosed with the flu and given excessive amounts of Gatorade, unaware he was actually suffering from Type 1 diabetes. By the time he reached the hospital, his blood sugar levels had skyrocketed past 1,000.

“The doctor looked at me like, ‘How are you still walking?'” Vogel recalled. He noted that while his endocrinologist provided the medical facts, the emotional burden of managing the condition fell heavily on his parents. More than three decades later, Vogel emphasized that technology has simplified management, but the most critical lesson he learned was the importance of overcoming fear to ask questions.

Vogel stressed that connecting with others who understand the condition—whether they have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes—helps patients find common ground and reduces the isolation often felt after diagnosis.

Ashley McEvoy, president and CEO of Insulet, the company behind the Omnipod insulin pump, argued that effective device design requires a deep understanding of patients’ lived experiences, not just their clinical data. She highlighted a significant disparity in how Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are perceived. While Type 1 is often met with immediate empathy, Type 2 is frequently stigmatized.

“There’s not as much empathy in Type 2,” McEvoy said. She explained that Insulet is developing automated systems for Type 2 patients that reduce decision fatigue by eliminating the need for manual mealtime insulin adjustments or dosage entries. This automation could also enable primary-care physicians to manage these technologies, expanding access beyond endocrinologists.

Dr. Judith Joseph, a psychiatrist and researcher, focused on the psychological dimensions of chronic illness. She warned that sterile medical environments can leave patients feeling invisible and overlooked, exacerbating the mental stress that physically hinders healing.

“The body is under a lot of stress, especially mental stress,” Joseph said. “It’s hard to heal.” She pointed to the power of online communities, where patients with rare or misunderstood conditions can find support and share knowledge that they can then bring back to their healthcare providers.

Joseph concluded by urging patients to reject the internalized shame often associated with chronic illness, noting that many patients feel their condition is a result of personal failure. “Challenge that feeling of shame,” she advised, emphasizing that patients are increasingly playing a role in educating healthcare professionals about their needs.

The forum was sponsored by Insulet, the American Cancer Society, Kite—a Gilead Sciences company, Musely, and NMDP.