Self-Management of Type-2 Diabetes Using a Mobile Application

A Mobile System Framework to Support the Autonomous Self-management of Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Mauritius

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a global health emergency, since its prevalence has become alarming in many countries in the previous years. Because of the increasing healthcare requirement, it has also progressively become an economic burden for every country. From the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Atlas (International Diabetes Federation, 2015), 415 million people worldwide were estimated to have DM in 2015 and this figure is expected to rise to 642 million in 2040. DM contributed to 5 million adult deaths globally in 2015. Mauritius has one of the highest DM prevalence in the world (24.3% prevalence for ages 20 - 79) for 2015 (International Diabetes Federation, 2015). 2,932 adult died due to Diabetes, and the average cost of DM related problems amount to 2 billion rupees per year. The Mauritius Non Communicable Diseases Survey (Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, 2015) reports an estimated 257,442 people between the ages of 25 and 74 with Diabetes in Mauritius. A high prevalence of pre-diabetes is also noted, which may subsequently result in diabetes and heart disease, if not appropriately managed. The DM epidemic has a significant impact locally and globally, calling for urgent remedial strategies to curb the spread.

Studies have shown that patient's self-care including monitoring of blood glucose improve glycemic control (Allemann et al, 2009; Skeie et al, 2009; Istepanian et al, 2009). Patients are currently empowered through face to face counselling, websites, social media and other state of the art technologies. The use of smart phones for self-monitoring of blood glucose has shown to have substantial beneficial effects (Liang et al, 2011; Pal et al 2014). This project aims at using mobile technologies to instil behavioural changes in people living with DM and pre-diabetes in an attempt to alleviate the long term problems associated with DM. More precisely, it will constitute the development of an autonomous system for self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Mauritius. The prototype will be tested for feasibility among patients with T2DM and pre-diabetes. It is expected that the proposed system will help to reduce the financial burden on the healthcare system in Mauritius through patient empowerment and improved self-care in the long run.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Diabetes Mellitus
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: DiaMon - Mobile Application for Type 2 Diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes

Detailed Description

he global burden of diabetes mellitus is an issue of increasing concern globally. The social and economic burden is soaring, pushing scientist to discover alternative options to reduce the burden. It is estimated that the burden is worse in countries with limited resources such as Mauritius.

Mauritius has one of the highest DM prevalence in the world (24.3% prevalence for ages 20 - 79) for 2015 (International Diabetes Federation, 2015). 2,932 adult died due to diabetes, and the average cost of DM related problems amount to 2 billion rupees per year. The Mauritius Non Communicable Diseases Survey (Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, 2015) reports an estimated 257,442 people between the ages of 25 and 74 with Diabetes in Mauritius. A high prevalence of pre-diabetes is also noted, which may subsequently result in diabetes and heart disease, if not appropriately managed. The DM epidemic has a significant impact locally and globally, calling for urgent remedial strategies to curb the spread.

Studies have shown that patient's self-care including monitoring of blood glucose improve glycemic control (Allemann et al, 2009; Skeie et al, 2009; Istepanian et al, 2009). Patients are currently empowered through face to face counselling, websites, social media and other state of the art technologies. The use of smart phones for self-monitoring of blood glucose has shown to have substantial beneficial effects (Liang et al, 2011; Pal et al 2014).

Aims and objectives:

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect on glycaemic levels among patients living with type 2 diabetes who are using a newly designed mobile application.

The objectives are to:

Measure the change in HbA1c after 3 months of using the application Compare secondary outcomes such as weight and BMI following the use of the application Assess the perception of patients using the digital tool and relate behavioural changes with the use of the application

Methodology:

A single arm prospective non randomised study is proposed. Participants will be recruited using adverts in the local newspapers and social media. Interested participants will be screened for eligibility and given the mobile application to use. They will be advised to record their daily fasting and post-prandial blood glucose as well as their levels of physical activity.

The following clinical and biomarkers will be checked before and after the use of the intervention: HbA1c, FBS, weight, BMI and blood pressure. The duration of follow up will be 3-6 months. An investigator designed questionnaire will be used to evaluate the use of the mobile app.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 25
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Mauritius
  • Moka
    • Le Réduit, Moka, Mauritius, 80837
      • University of Mauritius

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 74 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with HbA1c 7-8% (stable T2DM) Patients with Impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance Patients between 18 -74 years Both males and female patients Participants diagnosed with T2DM Participants able to provide consent Participants able to use the SMART phones

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with HbA1c >9% (poorly controlled DM) Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus Pregnant women Patients with gestational DM Patients unable to use smart devices Patients unable to provide consent People with other chronic diseases or health problems which can interfere with glycaemic control (e.g brittle asthma/COPD and using oral steroids)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Interventional arm; Participants will be asked to use a designed mobile app to monitor their blood sugar levels	Other: DiaMon - Mobile Application for Type 2 Diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes; Each participant will be provided with a mobile application aimed at monitoring their clinical markers such as FBG and HbA1c. The mobile application consists of medical details and demographics as well as a section dedicated to daily glucose levels and record of physical activity.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Glycaemic control	The glycaemic control was measured through glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)	3 months
Fasting blood glucose (FBG)	FBG was measured on a daily basis and a reduction in FBG was sought.	3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Weight	a change in weight was measured through measurement of weight before and after the intervention	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Mauritius
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Abha Jodheea-Jutton, University of Mauritius

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 31, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): July 31, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 25, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 25, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): August 30, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 30, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 25, 2021
• Last Verified: August 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, E health, glycaemic control, physical activity
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
• Other Study ID Numbers: UoM/R213

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: The individual participant Data has been recorded in an anonymous format digitally and is available upon request.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No