Impact of Facebook on Glucose Control in Type 1 Diabetes: A Three-Year Cohort Study

Abstract

BackgroundAs the world is changing, traditional health care services should be adapted for the new era of technology and the Internet. One of the possible ways for communication between health care providers and patients is social media. There are several benefits of social media in health: increased interactions with others; more available and shared information; increased accessibility; social or emotional support.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the results of Facebook and CareLink software as a possible Internet tool to improve diabetes control in type 1 diabetes patients using a sensor augmented pump.MethodsA total of 67 adolescents with type 1 diabetes and in the age range of 14-23 years were randomized in 2 groups: (1) Traditional group and (2) Internet group. In the traditional group, 34 patients were treated using standard medical protocol with regular clinic visits, where data were uploaded at the clinic and interventions (pump settings-basal bolus insulin and education) were delivered to the patient. In the Internet group, 33 patients were treated using Facebook and CareLink software (Medtronic Diabetes) on a monthly basis, where the data were uploaded by the patient at home and interventions (same as traditional group) were delivered via Facebook (written reports and chats).Both the traditional and Internet group had regular visits every 3 months with standard medical protocol. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was obtained before and every 3 months during the study for a 3-year-period.ResultsThe improvement in glucose control was found in both groups: 7.9% (SD 1.4) [62.8 mmol/mol (SD 12.9)] to 6.9% (SD 1.2) [51.9 mmol/mol (SD 10.8)] in the traditional group, and 7.8% (SD 1.8) [61.7 mmol/mol (SD 17.2)] to 6.7% (SD 1.8) [49.7 mmol/mol (SD 17.3)] in the Internet group). Significant improvement of HbA1c (P<.05) was found in favor of the Internet group.ConclusionsSocial media such as Facebook as a tool can assist in standard medical care to improve glucose control in a long term period in adolescents with type 1 diabetes using insulin pump therapy.

Internet Usage May Improve Quality of Life (QoL) in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

“…In a prospective study involving adolescent Type 1 Diabetes patients, there were decreased number of diabetic ketosis episodes in those using Facebook. But every internet visit was personalized with patients need and regulated for content by supervising doctor [10]. Our study is different, as we retrospectively analysed the subjects who were using internet unsupervised by any healthcare provider yet demonstrated benefit.…”

The future of diabetes education

“…Diabetes UK, Facebook, Twitter and sites like diabetes.co.uk – are very divided, even though these sites do seem to be highly valued by people with diabetes who use them and may improve metabolic control. Many social media/online community users are even happy to share their own personal data online for the benefit of the wider community …”

Facebook as a Medium for the Support and Enhancement of Ambulatory Care for People With Diabetes: Qualitative Realist Evaluation of a Real-World Trial

“…Aside from the ethical and legal concerns associated with social media–facilitated health care communication [ 24 , 25 ], a further limitation for promoting such engagement by health care systems and HCPs is the fact that, with some exceptions [ 26 , 27 ], the use of Facebook by HCPs has not been associated with outcomes justifying the use of time and resources required to sustain this type of intervention [ 28 ]. This is striking because, at face value, Facebook is a medium that is well and widely established in countries like Denmark, where it is estimated that there are up to 3 million regular users in a country of approximately 5 million inhabitants.…”