Effectiveness of mobile phone short message service on diabetes mellitus management; the SMS-DM study

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 94; no. 1; pp. e24 - e26
• Main Authors: Hussein, Wiam I., Hasan, Khadija, Jaradat, Ahmed A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.10.2011
• Subjects: Adult; Blood Glucose - metabolism; body mass index; Cell Phone; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism; Glycemic control; glycemic effect; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; patients; SMS; teachers; Text Messaging; Glycemic control; SMS; Diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2011.07.025

To test the feasibility of short message service (SMS) usage between the clinic visits and to evaluate its effect on glycemic control in uncontrolled type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) subjects. 34 cases with type 2 Diabetes were followed after fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The interventional group ( n = 12) had the same conventional approach of the control group but had two mobile numbers (physician and diabetic educator) provided for the SMS support until their next visit in 3 months. Both groups of age, BMI and the pre-study A1c were comparable. Both groups had a significant reduction in their A1c compared to their baseline visit. However, the interventional group had significantly greater reduction in A1c ( p = 0.001), 1.16% lower than controls. The service was highly satisfactory to the group. The results indicate effectiveness in lowering A1c and acceptance by the patients. Further research and large-scale studies are needed.