Validation of a novel mobile phone application for type 2 diabetes screening following gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: We sought to determine if using fasting blood glucose (FBG) through text-based care is an effective screening tool for type 2 diabetes in the postpartum period compared to in-person, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance testing (2hr OGTT). Methods: This was a single-center interventional study that included individuals diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Patients were enrolled in standard, office-based 2hr OGTT in combination with text-based remote diabetes screening. Study participants were instructed to record FBG for 3 consecutive days using a mobile application. We assessed agreement with 2hr OGTT using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value with exact binomial 95% confidence intervals. Results: 25%, respectively; P<0.001). Conclusions: Text-based screening may be a feasible alternative to in-office screening. A mobile-based system using FBG successfully screened all patients with type 2 diabetes in the postpartum period with 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value. Remote telehealth screening significantly increased follow-up with type 2 diabetes screening.