Cellphone tech to tackle diabetes

An interactive computer software programme appears to be effective in helping patients tackle Type 2 diabetes using their mobile phones, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

According to the study, to be published in the September issue of Diabetes Care, a key measure of blood sugar control—the amount of hemoglobin A1c in a person’s blood—was lowered by an average of 1.9 per cent over one year in patients using the mobile health software. The findings support the exploration of mobile health approaches to manage many chronic conditions, including diabetes.

The study says using mobile phones, the internet and other mobile communications technology to keep patients healthy may have broad applications to help patients and physicians manage many health conditions. The software examined in the research provided real-time feedback on patients’ blood sugar levels, displayed medication regimens and served as a ‘virtual coach’. A patient’s blood sugar test results were sent wirelessly from a blood glucose monitor to a mobile phone. If the level was too low or too high, the software on the phone prompted the person to take steps to correct it. The system also analysed blood sugar levels and other patient information and sent computer-generated logbooks. It also suggested treatment plans to the patients’ primary care doctor.

People with Type 2 diabetes either do not produce enough insulin to convert sugar into energy or their cells ignore the insulin. A key measure of blood sugar control is the amount of hemoglobin A1c in a person’s blood. A1c is a molecule in red blood cells that binds itself to blood sugar. The higher the level of sugar in the blood, the higher the level of A1c.