Amobile health application for supporting physical exercises and diet of type 2 diabetic patients during self-management

Abstract

Background: Self-management is an important factor in control of type 2 diabetes mellitus and preventing of its complications.Global statistics have indicated steady increase in this chronic disease and at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) with prevalence rate of 9%This is attributed by sedentary lifestyle, decreased health services and aging population. Diabetic patients always find challenges in management of this chronic condition with poor medication, improper follow up, lack of knowledge and information on disease management, high burden of expensive costs, reduction of patient‟s productivity and cause of psychosocial distress.There have been advancements in mobile applications for diabetes self-management. However, physical exercises and diet are neglected. This study shows how to designand developa type 2 manager application that supports physical exercise and diet which improves their lifestyle. Objective: This study aimed at improving type 2 diabetes self-management by designing and developing a type 2 manager application with a recommender algorithm on physical exercises, diet and availing educative information to type 2 diabetes patients during self-management. Methods:The study used scope review methodology approach to get quick overview of existing applications and theirgaps. Following agile methodology type 2 diabetes manager was designed and developed with iterative approach from various user feedback to meet their needs. Latertested among purposively recruited Participant with technologyacceptance model (TAM) serving as the conceptual framework to assess feasibility and acceptability. Results: The application was named “Type 2 manager”.it comprised of features like Type 2 diabetes mellitus Monitor to capture data on self-management assessment and information board to provide educativeinformation. User feedback demonstrated application feasibility and acceptability with improved health status of patients adjusting to participate in physical exercises and dietary changes. Barriers to application usewere language, technicaldifficulties. Recommendations centered on customizing Type 2 manager application in local languages, organizing training to potential app users and involving health workers. Conclusions: The incorporation of user centered features which engage Type 2 diabetes Mellitus patients in self-management can improve health outcomes. Self-management is a significant factor in blood sugar control. Future applications developers should extend this technology in other chronic diseases management considering cost implication of the application in mind.