A meta-analysis suggests that smartphone technologies (STs) can significantly improve glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with usual diabetes care, particularly among those in the earlier stages of the condition. The findings were published in the journal Obesity Reviews.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 17 randomised controlled trials (RCTs; n= 2225) identified through a literature search on the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and ScienceDirect databases. The RCTs compared STs with usual diabetes care in patients with T2DM, the primary outcome being change in HbA1c level.
A significant reduction in HbA1c (pooled weighted mean difference [WMD], −0.51%; P<.001) was seen with STs. There was a significant sub-group difference in HbA1c reduction (P=.007) between patients with T2DM <8.5 years (WMD, −0.83%) vs T2DM ≥8.5 years (WMD, −0.22%).
"Face-to-face patient education being time-consuming, STs may be effectively employed as complementary or alternative intervention by healthcare professionals for managing the increasing burden of patients with diabetes," the authors concluded.
