Smartphone Application for the Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Kangbuk Samsung Hospital21 enrolled

Overview

The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been progressively increasing. It is important to recognize and treat GDM to minimize the risk of maternal and neonatal complications. Multifaceted professional interventions are effective in the management of GDM and mobile healthcare can be an effective approach. The purpose of the current study was to develop and evaluate a model for prevention and management of GDM using mobile healthcare. Subjects with no previous history of diabetes, who were diagnosed with GDM during 24-28 weeks of gestation, were randomly divided into a conventional management group and a mobile management group. The conventional mangement group received conventional GDM management and could freely use the mobile healthcare application. The mobile management group received mobile healthcare services including tailored mobile coaching. The effectiveness of the management using the application were evaluated through the result values of the laboratory tests, anthropometric measurement performed during the study period and perinatal outcomes.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnancy

Interventions

Smartphone applicationOTHER

Mobile management group participants were given monitoring system devices including a glucometer with Bluetooth connectivity and an accelerometer to detect physical activity level. The mobile phone application specifically designed for this study was installed at enrollment for the mobile management group to collect clinical data and messages from the patients. The application consisted of four sections: clinical data, nutrition and diet, medication, and messaging system and information. Patients allocated to the mobile management group recorded their blood glucose level and diet via the smartphone application, and health care providers regularly scanned clinical data and messages from patients and sent return messages with tailored medical and nutritional guidance.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 19 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Singleton pregnant women diagnosed as GDM at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation were included. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients after 30th week of gestation and patients with pregestational diabetes were excluded from participating in the study. Patients who were unable to understand Korean, were unfamiliar with mobile phones, who did not have access to a mobile phone, or who were already receiving services from another mobile healthcare agency were also excluded.