Computerized Automated Reminder Diabetes System (CARDS): e-mail and SMS cell phone text messaging reminders to support diabetes management.
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Date
2009-10-23
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Cell phone text messaging via the Short Messaging Service SMS offers the promise of a highly portable well accepted and inexpensive modality for engaging youth and young adults in the management of their diabetes This pilot and feasibility study compared two way SMS cell phone messaging with e mail reminders that were directed at encouraging blood glucose BG monitoring METHODS Forty insulin treated adolescents and young adults with diabetes were randomized to receive electronic reminders to check their BG levels via cell phone text messaging or e mail reminders for a 3 month pilot study Electronic messages were automatically generated and participant replies with BG results were processed by the locally developed Computerized Automated Reminder Diabetes System CARDS Participants set their schedule for reminders on the secure CARDS website where they could also enter and review BG data RESULTS Of the 40 participants 22 were randomized to receive cell phone text message reminders and 18 to receive e mail reminders 18 in the cell phone group and 11 in the e mail group used the system Compared to the e mail group users in the cell phone group received more reminders 180 4 vs 106 6 per user and responded with BG results significantly more often 30 0 vs 6 9 per user P 0 04 During the first month cell phone users submitted twice as many BGs as e mail users 27 2 vs 13 8 per user by month 3 usage waned CONCLUSIONS Cell phone text messaging to promote BG monitoring is a viable and acceptable option in adolescents and young adults with diabetes However maintaining interest levels for prolonged intervals remains a challenge