Pilot study correlates improved glucose levels in teen diabetics with text messaging
Jennifer Dyer, MD, MPH, an endocrinologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, has developed an iPhone application that sends customized text message reminders to adolescent diabetes patients about their treatment activities. Dyer developed the app after completing a pilot study and concluding that weekly, customized text messages to remind adolescent diabetes patients about their personal treatment activities resulted in an increase in overall treatment adherence and improved blood glucose levels.
Dyer, a principal investigator in the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, has applied for an internal grant to test the app.
"This form of communication allows for real-time health management, which is extremely valuable for patients that suffer from a chronic illness like diabetes," said Dyer.
During the study, Dyer sent personalized questions and reminders specific to diabetes adherence activities in addition to friendly, supportive messages to her patients. By asking questions about glucose testing, meal boluses and frequency of high and low glucoses, Dyer has seen an increase in teens taking their medications.
The average teen sends about 50 texts each day while 75 percent of teen cell phone users have a cell phone plan with unlimited texting capabilities, according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The rate of medication non-adherence among adolescent recipients is approximately four times higher than that among adult recipients, the organization added.
"If adolescent diabetes patients do not adhere to their treatment and medication plan, it can result in difficulty concentrating in school or functioning throughout the day," stated Dyer, also an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
The grant application will allow endocrinologists to send personalized, automated texts to multiple patients at a specific time, according to Dyer.
Dyer, a principal investigator in the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, has applied for an internal grant to test the app.
"This form of communication allows for real-time health management, which is extremely valuable for patients that suffer from a chronic illness like diabetes," said Dyer.
During the study, Dyer sent personalized questions and reminders specific to diabetes adherence activities in addition to friendly, supportive messages to her patients. By asking questions about glucose testing, meal boluses and frequency of high and low glucoses, Dyer has seen an increase in teens taking their medications.
The average teen sends about 50 texts each day while 75 percent of teen cell phone users have a cell phone plan with unlimited texting capabilities, according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The rate of medication non-adherence among adolescent recipients is approximately four times higher than that among adult recipients, the organization added.
"If adolescent diabetes patients do not adhere to their treatment and medication plan, it can result in difficulty concentrating in school or functioning throughout the day," stated Dyer, also an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
The grant application will allow endocrinologists to send personalized, automated texts to multiple patients at a specific time, according to Dyer.