Mobile-Based Technology App Used to Improve Self-Care Management of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Billions of dollars are spent on diabetes in healthcare each year. Patients with lower socio-economic-status tend to have poor glycemic control, higher associated diabetic complications, and higher associated mortality rates. In underserved patients with type 2 diabetes, does utilization of a Diabetes app, compared to previous self-care management and clinic education, lower the Hemoglobin A1c over a 3-month period? A 3-month scholarly project was conducted in a small rural town in Virginia with an average median income around $17,000. N=21 were selected for the scholarly project. Inclusive criteria consisted of adults aged 19-70 years with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes for more than 6 months. Participants were required to have access to iOS/Android cellular devices. Additionally, participants were requested to complete pre and post self-care management and demographics questionnaires, and utilize the Diabetes app daily during the 3 month intervention window. After the 3-month intervention window, participants had an overall decrease in hemoglobin A1c by (2.34%, p = .004). Further evidence demonstrated a direct improvement in self-care management techniques ratings based on average, good, and great with an overall mean increase of 14.3% after the intervention window. Participants who scored poor and bad had an overall mean decrease of 21.38% after the intervention period. Mobile-based technology serves to help patients achieve their target glycemic goals, reduce mortality and morbidity, and promotes more versatile methods of healthcare delivery compared to traditional interventions and educational methods such as oral glycemic agents, diabetic class education, and insulin administration to manage T2DM