A randomized, controlled trial of an automated wireless messaging system for diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Aggressive management of blood glucose reduces future diabetes-related complications, but this is difficult to achieve.


METHODS
This randomized, controlled study tested the effect of using a wireless two-way pager-based automated messaging system to improve diabetes control through facilitated self-management. The system sent health-related messages to patients, with automatic forwarding of urgent patient responses to the health care team.


RESULTS
Participants in both the experimental (pager) and the control groups experienced an average hemoglobin A1c decrease of 0.1-0.3%. More patients in the pager group were normotensive, and more felt that their health care was better by the end of the study. A total of 79% of participants enjoyed using the pager, and 68% wanted to continue using the system.


CONCLUSIONS
Utilizing a wireless, automated messaging system in clinical practice is a feasible, low-cost, interactive way to facilitate diabetes self-management, which is acceptable to patients. While providing a convenient way for patients and providers to communicate, this system can support automated recording and ready retrieval of these real-time interactions.
Leu
Michael G
MG
University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195-6340, USA.
Norris
Thomas E
TE
Hummel
Jeffrey
J
Isaac
Margaret
M
Brogan
Michael W
MW
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013685:Telecommunications
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin