Text Messaging may Help Diabetic Patients Improve Glycemic Control

Today's technological advances continue to be a blessing and a curse in our everyday lives. Yet a recent study, conducted by researchers at the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute, shows that texting may carry certain health benefits for diabetes patients.

According to the Dulce Digital Study, researchers found that a text message-based self-management intervention system helped to improve glycemic control in high-risk Latinos with type 2 diabetes.

"The use of mobile phones in health care is very promising, especially when it comes to low-income populations with chronic diseases," said researcher Athena Philis-Tsimikas, M.D., corporate vice president for the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute, in a news release. "We found that by using text messages we were able to circumvent many of the barriers these patients face, such as lack of transportation or childcare, while still being able to expand the reach of diabetes care and education."

In the study, researchers divided a group of 126 patients into two sections: one that received standard diabetes treatments and another that received text messaging as well as standard care.

The text messages that the second group received contained nutrition and exercise tips as well as information on the benefits of medication adherence.

"At the six-month mark, we found that the Dulce Digital participants had a significantly larger decrease in hemoglobin A1c test levels than the control group," Tsimikas concluded, via the news release.

More information regarding the findings were presented at the 74th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Francisco on June 13.