Texting while driving might be harmful but researchers have found a positive side to messaging - it control diabetes. A new research shows that textimg might not be a bad idea for diabetics after all.
Researchers at the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute, San Diego, found that a text message-based self-management intervention improves glycemic control in high-risk Latinos with type 2 diabetes.
"The use of mobile phones in health care is very promising, especially when it comes to low-income populations with chronic diseases," researcher Athena Philis-Tsimikas, M.D., corporate vice president for the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute, said in a press release.
The research team found that by using text messages they were able to avoid many of the obstacles encountered by the patients, such as lack of transportation or childcare, while still being able to expand the reach of diabetes care and education.
For the Dulce Digital study, the researchers examined 126 participants who were divided into two groups. One group received standard diabetes management care and the other got text messaging as well as standard care.
According to the researchers, text messages contained nutrition and exercise tips as well as information on the benefits of medication adherence.
"At the six-month mark, we found that the Dulce Digital participants had a significantly larger decrease in hemoglobin A1c test levels than the control group," said Tsimikas.
The research comes just after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report saying that diabetes is on rise in the U.S. and 1 in 4 are not even aware they have it.
The report showed that 86 million, nearly a third of the adult population, have high chances of developing diabetes and can be easily categorized as pre-diabetics.
The latest findings of the Dulce Digital study were presented at the 74th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Francisco, Friday.
