title: Effectiveness of the smart care service for diabetes management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the Smart Care service for the diabetes management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six patients with diabetes mellitus were recruited in Daegu, Korea. All participants completed a diabetes management education course (diet, exercise, and complications) for their self-care and received access to a care management website through a netbook and smartphone. The website accepts uploads of glucose level, body weight, HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and blood pressure. Participants communicated with the care manager through the internal management system of the website. The intervention was applied for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants receiving the Smart Care service had lower blood glucose and HbA1c during 6 months follow-up when 1-month values (p < 0.001) were compared. There was no significant difference in body weight and body mass index between 1 month and 6 months. The average number of remote consultation with the Smart Care service per person was 10.4 by nurses, 3.0 by nutritionists, and 1.6 by sports curers. Regression analysis indicated that the number of times counseling was offered by nurses influences body weight and that the number of minutes of telephone counseling influences both body weight and body mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have confirmed that the Smart Care service might be an effective system for reduction in blood glucose and HbA1c. We expect that the Smart Care service will contribute to delaying diabetes complications and improving the quality of life of patients with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Sunlin College, Pohang, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Soon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Yongsuk
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Future IT R&D Lab., LG Electronics Woomyeon R&D Campus, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; Health Services; Medical Informatics; Remote Consultation; Telemedicine