A short message service by cellular phone in type 2 diabetic patients for 12 months.
OBJECTIVE
Investigate the effectiveness of an educational intervention that used both the cellular phone with a short messaging service (SMS) and the Internet on the glycemic control of the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group and twenty-six to a control group. The intervention was applied for 12 months. The goal of the intervention was to keep blood glucose concentrations close to the normal range (HbA(1)c<7%). Patients in the intervention group were asked to access a website by using a cellular phone or to wiring the Internet and input their blood glucose levels weekly. Participants were sent the optimal recommendations by both cellular phone and the Internet weekly.


RESULTS
Participants in the intervention group had lower HbA(1)c over 12 months when compared with the control group. At 12 months the change from baseline in HbA(1)c was -1.32 in the intervention group versus +0.81 in the control group. Two hours post-meal glucose (2HPMG) had a significantly greater decline in the intervention group after 12 months when compared with the control group (-100.0 versus +18.1mg/dl).


CONCLUSIONS
This educational intervention using the Internet and a SMS by cellular phone rapidly improved and stably maintained the glycemic control of the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Yoon
Kun-Ho
KH
Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, #505 Banpo-Dong, Seocho-Ku, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Hee-Seung
HS
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020407:Internet; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids