How to effectively design and create a concept mobile application to aid in the management of type 1 diabetes in adolescents

Background: The prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in childhood is increasing every year. Adolescence is the most challenging age for achieving optimal metabolic control of T1DM. Telemedicine has already been shown to be effective in children with the condition, but there are not enough studies in adolescents. The use of mobile apps may be associated with better glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes.Aims: To assess the effectiveness and safety of a model of medical care for adolescents with type 1 diabetes using remote counseling and a mobile application.Materials and methods: Were included adolescents aged ≥14 and 18 years with a T1DM duration> 3 months, a glycated hemoglobin level (HbA1c)> 7%. The duration of the study was 26 weeks. There were 3 face-to-face and at least 4 remote visits using a mobile application. All patients underwent standard examination and anthropometry, study of HbA1c, registration and analysis of indicators, assessment and correction of the treatment. The quality of life of adolescents was assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. Adolescents and physicians were interviewed about program evaluation.Results: 56 patients were included, 7 adolescents withdrew. HbA1c significantly decreased by the 12th week of the study (–0.3%; p = 0.005), by the end of the study the change in HbA1c was –0.5% (p <0.001). There was an increase in the percentage of glucose measurements in the target range (+5.3 pp; p = 0.016) and a decrease in blood glucose variability (-3.1 pp; p = 0.015). There was a significant improvement in both the total assessment of the quality of life by patients (+2.9 points; p = 0.008) and individual components of its indicators: attitude to diabetes (+3.0 points; p = 0.049), attitude to treatment (+4.6 points; p = 0.010) and communication with others (+4.5 points; p = 0.015). The majority of doctors and patients assessed their participation in the study positively. The incidence of adverse events did not change significantly during the study from baseline.Conclusion: Remote counseling using a mobile app is a safe and effective approach for adolescents with T1DM in terms of glycemic control and quality of life, and provides convenience and speed of interaction.

Download Full-text

Caregiver’s Opinions on the Design of the Screens of a Future Gamified Mobile Application for Self-Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Children in Saudi Arabia

International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications ◽

10.1155/2021/8822676 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Demah M. Alsalman ◽

Zahra Bu Ali ◽

Zainab Alnosaier ◽

Norah Alotaibi ◽

Turki M. Alanzi

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Blood Glucose ◽

Mobile Application ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Stable State ◽

Insulin Injection ◽

Self Management ◽

Practical Implementation

The objective of this study was to design the screens of a future gamified mobile application for self-management of type 1 diabetes in children based on the opinion of caregivers at the King Fahad Hospital Diabetes Center, Saudi Arabia. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire was designed and distributed among 100 caregivers through face-to-face communication and social media using a Google Forms link. 65% of the participants met the inclusion criteria. The main result of this study was the design of 13 screens of a gamified application for self-management of type 1 diabetes in children from Saudi Arabia. The key features of the screens were caring for a character; using a challenging friend; inclusion of points, level, and leaderboard as rewarding principles; use of reminders and notifications for doctor’s appointments, insulin injection times, blood glucose readings; and tips for improving medication adherence, increasing blood glucose readings, supporting physical activities, and adopting healthy eating habits. It can be concluded that the practical implementation of the screens in a future mobile application can motivate children with type 1 diabetes to improve eating habits, physical exercise, and cognitive, emotional, and social behaviors to maintain a stable state of health. Also, the content of the designed screens can help to monitor blood glucose readings and comply with medication treatment. The designed screens are adapted to the Arab culture.

Download Full-text

Medical Assistant Mobile Application for Diabetes Control by Simulating a Compartmental Model

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10196846 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (19) ◽

pp. 6846 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Martín Hernández-Ordoñez ◽

Marco Aurelio Nuño-Maganda ◽

Carlos Adrián Calles-Arriaga ◽

Abelardo Rodríguez-León ◽

Guillermo Efren Ovando-Chacon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Mathematical Models ◽

Mobile Application ◽

Compartmental Model ◽

Glucose Absorption ◽

Medical Assistant ◽

Android Os ◽

Parameter Variations

This paper presents an educational mobile assistant application for type 1 diabetes patients. The proposed application is based on four mathematical models that describe the glucose-insulin-glucagon dynamics using a compartmental model, with additional equations to reproduce aerobic exercise, gastric glucose absorption by the gut, and subcutaneous insulin absorption. The medical assistant was implemented in Java and deployed and validated on several smartphones with Android OS. Multiple daily doses can be simulated to perform intensive insulin therapy. As a result, the proposed application shows the influence of exercise periods, food intakes, and insulin treatments on the glucose concentrations. Four parameter variations are studied, and their corresponding glucose concentration plots are obtained, which show agreement with simulators of the state of the art. The developed application is focused on type-1 diabetes, but this can be extended to consider type-2 diabetes by modifying the current mathematical models.

Download Full-text

Design of a System using Mobile Application for the Control of Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering ◽

10.46338/ijetae1021_17 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 137-142

Author(s):

Rosa Perez Siguas ◽

◽

Eduardo Matta Solis ◽

Hernan Matta Solis

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Data Storage ◽

Mobile Application ◽

Insulin Dose ◽

Mobile App ◽

Balanced Diet ◽

Specialist Doctor ◽

Fried Foods ◽

Health Organization

The hectic lifestyle of the human nowadays, makes them prone to have an unbalanced diet, which consists of mostly processed foods, for example: snacks, soft drinks, fried foods, among others. In the following paper, the importance of controlling the type 1 diabetes that occurs mostly in infants and adolescents will be focus, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), less than 10% correspond to this type, which until this 21st century, there is no cure, but it is possible to have strict control so that these patients could have a better quality of life. It will focus on the control of a balanced diet and medications in which the patient is prescribed by their specialist doctor. This procedure will be done through the development of a mobile app, which is linked to a database in the hospital that the patient may be treating or doing its control, so the doctor can also have a better diagnosis and control if the patient is following with the requirements of its diet and doses of medications that doctor has been prescribing, all this data storage will be done through the mobile application developed on Android, where the patient will have a detailed schedule of their diet, glucose tests to be done and the prescription of the insulin dose

Download Full-text