Effectiveness of a new smartphone application on type 1 diabetes control and self-management in times of Covid-19: Prospective comparative study (Preprint)

Abstract

UNSTRUCTURED Self-management for type 1 diabetes mellitus patients is a real challenge especially in a time of a spreading pandemic. “Ana wa Soukari” is a newly designed smartphone application for therapeutic education and insulin doses management. Our study evaluated the effectiveness of “Ana wa soukari” on clinical and biological outcomes of type 1 diabetes self-management. Our 3 months’ follow-up results: 62 patients were included in our study. The mean age of our patients was 15 6,41 years. Sex ratio M/F = 1,1. Mean diabetes duration was 4,9 4,3 years and 67,7% of patients had diabetes for less than 5 years. Mean HbA1c levels in Group A (with application) and Group B (without application) dropped from 8,3% 2,3 and 8,2% 2 respectively at baseline to 7,4% 1,5 and 8% 1,8 at three months’ follow-up. Change in hypoglycaemic episodes was – 1,8 2,0 (P < 0,001) for Group A and – 1,2 1,5 (P < 0,001) for Group B. DTSQs was performed in both groups at end point. Scores were significantly higher in group (A) than in group (B) with a mean score of 31,8 3,4 and 28,4 3,8 respectively (P < 0,001). Self-management smartphone apps appear to be effective on glycaemic control and should be considered as an adjuvant intervention to the standard diabetes care.

Which behaviour change techniques work best for diabetes self-management mobile apps? Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

“… 81 , 88 , 93 , 94 , 95 Finally, two studies provided participants in the intervention arm with additional HCP involvement unrelated to the digital technology. 83 , 96 As for the level of technology automation, 21 studies (36.8%) adopted apps with some form of automatic support based on algorithms directed at adjusting the insulin dose, 69 , 76 , 93 , 95 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 providing customized messages based on input data, 60 , 63 , 64 , 77 , 86 , 88 , 102 , 103 modifying caloric intake and diet habits, 66 , 96 , 104 or tailoring physical activity regimens. 65 …”