title: Mobile applications for diabetes self-management: status and potential.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advancements in smartphone technology coupled with the proliferation of data connectivity has resulted in increased interest and unprecedented growth in mobile applications for diabetes self-management.        The objective of this article is to determine, in a systematic review, whether diabetes applications have been helping patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes self-manage their condition and to identify issues necessary for large-scale adoption of such interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The review covers commercial applications available on the Apple App Store (as a representative of commercially available applications) and articles published in relevant databases covering a period from January 1995 to August 2012. The review included all applications supporting any diabetes self-management        task where the patient is the primary actor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Available applications support self-management tasks such as physical exercise, insulin dosage or medication, blood glucose testing, and diet. Other support tasks considered include decision support, notification/alert, tagging of input data, and integration with social media. The review points to the potential for mobile applications to have a positive impact on diabetes self-management. Analysis indicates that application usage is associated with improved attitudes favorable to diabetes self-management. Limitations of the applications include lack of personalized feedback; usability issues, particularly the ease of data entry; and integration with patients and electronic health records.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research into the adoption and use of user-centered and sociotechnical design principles is needed to improve usability, perceived usefulness, and, ultimately, adoption of the technology. Proliferation and efficacy of interventions involving mobile applications will benefit from a holistic approach that takes into account patients' expectations and providers' needs.
authors: College of Business and Information Systems, Dakota State University, Madison, South Dakota 57402, USA. Omar.El-Gayar@dsu.edu
authors: Omar
authors: O
authors: El-Gayar
authors: Prem
authors: P
authors: Timsina
authors: Nevine
authors: N
authors: Nawar
authors: Wael
authors: W
authors: Eid
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D006801:Humans; D012648:Self Care / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*