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A ccording to the American Diabetes Association, the direct and indirect costs of diabetes in the United States have exceeded 174 billion, and there are 25. 8 million U. S. children and adults with diabetes. 1 Numerous resources are available to help patients increase their role in the management of diabetes while simultaneously improving their metabolic parameters. Although the Internet is a burgeoning source of information and resources, the average patient often lacks the skills for finding and using the most optimal health care information. 2 It is important for health care providers (HCPs) to educate patients about the available pragmatic technological resources for the management of their diabetes. Specifically, smartphones have become an integral component of daily life for many people in the United States. In 2011, > 85% of Americans owned and used a mobile phone, and half of those users also had Internet access with their mobile devices. 3 The implementation of smartphone applications and tools for the management of diabetes may be an effective option in reducing the progression of diabetes and improving quality of life. Consistent self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) has been shown to be a useful tool in improving glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. 4 The use of smartphone applications (“apps”) has already been shown to be a useful method for accurately logging and managing SMBG results. SMBG data that are logged on a smartphone app can be easily reviewed with HCPs to make recommendations about exercise, diet, or medications. A meta-analysis revealed that using SMBG data stored in and/or shared through a PDA (personal data assistant), logbook, the Internet, fax machines, and other innovative technologies, along with consistent feedback from an HCP, enhanced glycemic improvements and reduced hospitalizations. 5 The goal of using smartphone apps is to effectively manage diabetes by improving glycemic control …
Tran et al. (Mon,) studied this question.