Effects of a Mobile Health Diabetes Self-care Program on HbA1C, FBS and Self-care in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: With the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, particularly among older adults, the importance of self-care has become increasingly significant. In this study, we analyzed the effects of mobile phone-based training using the Idia software on self-care behavior and glycemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes. Objectives: This investigation aimed to test the hypothesis that a mobile applications (app) would improve self-management, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels compared to controls. Methods: The study was a randomized controlled trial involving 51 participants in the experimental group who received the intervention via the Idia app for one month and 51 participants in the control group who received usual care for the same period. Outcomes were assessed using HbA1c, FBS, and responses to the summary of diabetes self-care activities before and after the training sessions. Results: At the end of the study, HbA1c levels in the experimental group decreased from 7.25% to 6.8% (P < 0.001), while in the control group, levels decreased from 7.24% to 7.19% (P < 0.001). Similarly, FBS levels decreased from 171 mg/dL to 122 mg/dL (P < 0.001) in the experimental group and from 181 mg/dL to 145 mg/dL (P < 0.001) in the control group. Although both groups showed improvements, the differences were more pronounced in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusions: The key finding of this study is that educational interventions through mobile apps have the potential to improve self-care behaviors and HbA1c and FBS levels in older adults with type 2 diabetes. However, further studies with longer follow-up periods are recommended to validate these results.