Improving Type 1 Diabetes Management With Mobile Tools

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic condition that continues to permeate the health care atmosphere as one of critical importance. Management of this condition and more specifically type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has drawn considerable attention as health care systems begin to renew their focus on costs and quality improvement with the ongoing implementation of the new health care law. 1,2 At the same time telehealth, mobile health, and similar movements have all appeared in the health care sphere with increasing popularity as potential tools to aid persons with diabetes in the managing of their condition while lowering costs. 3 The rationale underlying the use of these tools is threefold. First, these tools allow for enhanced communication with a provider. Second, patients are empowered to independently assess and control their disease state. 4 Finally, cost savings round out these benefits, demonstrating mobile health tools as one of the key technological instruments that attack chronic conditions in way that is affordable, effective, and accessible. 5 Broadly defined, these tools can be thought of as any use of mobile communications for health information and services. 6 Unfortunately, use of these tools as interventions in the disease states of person with type 1 diabetic persons has led to mixed results even as the incidence of T1DM in the United States remains among the highest in the world. 7-10 Further 529885D STXXX10.

The Mobile Phone Affinity Scale: Enhancement and Refinement

“…There is tremendous growth in technologies that can provide health care and behavioral health interventions through mobile channels, such as apps and text messaging [16-18]. While the qualities of both the intervention and the delivery technology are important, in our quest to understand the effects that these interventions have on behaviors, it is also important to understand the relationship that the individual has with their mobile phone.…”

“…However, mobile phones can serve many positive functions. For example, many apps now exist to help people track health behaviors (eg, exercise, weight loss) and manage medical conditions, including diabetes and asthma [16-18]. Mobile phones also serve positive functions, including increasing efficiency and productivity at work, and improving connectivity to social networks, family, and friends [19,20].…”

Development of the Mobile Phone Attachment Scale

“…There is a great interest in providing health care and behavioral health interventions through mobile technologies (mHealth), including the mobile phone [13–15]. To understand the effects these interventions have on behaviors, it is also important to understand the relationship the individual has with their mobile phone.…”

“…However, technologies such as mobile phones can serve many positive functions in the lives of individuals. For example, many applications (“apps”) now exist that help people track health behaviors (such as exercise, weight loss) and medical conditions including diabetes and asthma management [13–15]. For many, the mobile phone improves connectivity to social networks, family and friends [16–17].…”

Remote Care Technology: A Systematic Review of Reviews and Meta-Analyses

“…Other articles focus on type 2 diabetes [7,21,23,26,28,31,45,49,56]. Only one of the retrieved articles focused exclusively on type 1 diabetes [40].…”