Managing diabetes using mobile phones

Every doctor tells his diabetes patients to follow a healthy diet, exercise daily and take their medication as directed, but he doesn't really give them the tools to do that.

A new study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have found that using an interactive computer software program appears to be effective in helping patients manage diabetes using their mobile phones .

This software application is serving as "virtual coach", it is helping patients to manage their diabetes and is telling patients what they should do in critical situations.

How does this application software work ?

A patient's blood sugar test results are sent wirelessly from a blood glucose monitor to the mobile phone, if the level is too low or too high, the software on the phone prompts the person to take steps to correct it. The system also analyzes blood sugar levels and other patient information and sends computer-generated logbooks and suggests treatment plans to the patients primary care doctor.

The findings of the study

1. This study is the first to scientifically examine mobile health technology. The amount of hemoglobin in a person's blood was lowered by an average of 1.9 percent over a period of one year in patients using the mobile health software. The findings support the further exploration of mobile health approaches to manage many chronic conditions, including diabetes.

2. This study is proving that Mobile health has the potential to help patients better self-manage any chronic disease, not just diabetes.

3. The study indicates that using mobile phones, the Internet and other mobile communications technology to keep patients healthy may have broad applications to help patients and their physicians manage many health conditions.