The invention includes an interactive method of therapy for
disease management, and for improving self-management of diabetes and other medical conditions. The invention improves
quality of life for users with a medical condition, and decreases the over all cost of health care for insurers. Operation of the invention promotes therapeutic behavioral change and substantial increase in adherence to
disease self-management programs. In one embodiment, the invention uses a
video game to improve self-management of a
disease. Games used with the invention provide one or more reinforcements to players who wish to change their behaviors in a way that improves their
chronic disease condition. Reinforcements consist of token rewards, prizes, increasing scores, group approval or disapproval, and increased social status. A
video game accesses medical data of a player. The
video game prompts players to perform one or more out-of-game self-management activities associated with the medical condition. The invention then adjusts the video
game based on medical data associated with one or more out-of-game self-management activities. In-game and out-of-game rewards, including social rewards, provide incentives to continue with a self-management program.