The effect of the Smart Glucose Manager (SGM) on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Smartphone use is growing rapidly in developing countries and mobile plications have begun to be utilized in the field of diabetes. Present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a newer mobile application, Smart Glucose Manager (SGM) in the management of diabetes mellitus. _ METHODS: A prospective randomized control trial was conducted at out-patient diabetes clinics of Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital. Patients with HbAlc = 8.0% with access to smart phone were recruited and randomly assigned to two arms. Patients in both arms received standard care, the intervention arm received the mobile application, SGM. HbAlc levels were measured at baseline and every 3-months. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 52±11 years. The improvement of mean HbAlc from baseline to 3-months follow-up, the intervention (baseline: 9.7%±1.3, follow-up: 8.2%±1.0, p =0.001) and control (baseline: 9.5%±1.6, follow-up: 8.2%±0.6, p=0.008) arms were not significantly different (p=0.98). However, a significant improvement in HbAlc was observed in the intervention arm from 3-months (8.3%±0.6) to 6-months (7.3%+_0.6), (p=0.005) compared with the control arm (8.2% at 3-months) (7.9%+_0.6-months), (p=0.16). Improvement of mean HbA1c was shown in both arms 3- months after the baseline clinic visit, but after 6-months, only the intervention arm continued to show statistically significant improvement of HbAlc(p=0.01). CONCLUSION: The improved glycemic control after 6 months in the intervention arm patients suggests increased patients compliance via the unique features of SGM. Further studies should be carried out to assess the long-term impact of SGM in diabetes patients.