Do digital methods help with diabetes? New record casts doubt - GigaOM

Mar. 28, 2013 - 4:27 PM PDT Mar. 28, 2013 - 4:27 PM PDT Given the amount of people with diabetes a 26 million in the U.S., with yet another third estimated to have prediabetes a itas small wonder that more businesses and startups are trying use technology to handle the situation. But a fresh report on computer-based support for those who have diabetes sees that while electronic instruments can lead to some positive results, the results be seemingly short-lived. The statement, printed in the Cochrane Library, an independent evaluator of medical research, was based on analysis 16 studies involving almost 3,600 people with diabetes. In each of the studies, the people used computers or cell phones as between one and 12 weeks part of a diabetes treatment program that lasted. The treatments in the trials included online peer support and education, digitally delivered personalized advice, setting goals features and mobile-based sugar data signals. The research found that the digitally protected plans resulted in small positive effects on blood sugar, with the interventions leading to slightly more progress, but that these effects began decreasing after half a year. Additionally, it discovered that there didnat appear to be important developments on despair, body pressure, weight or total well being. aOur assessment suggests that although popular, computer-based diabetes self-management treatments actually have limited data supporting their use,a cause analyst Kingshuk Pal, of the London-based University College London said in a statement. aThere will also be few studies considering cost-effectiveness or long-term impact on patient health.a Skeptics of extensive studies like this one mention that simply because they look at a variety of products and services of different qualities, that can make more middle-of-the-road results. Indeed, some of the more revolutionary electronic diabetes programs, likeAOmada Health,AGinger.io, andAGlooko, have shown some promise a' for example, in a recently available 230-person pilot of Omadaas diabetes prevention program, the common participant dropped 13.7 pounds after 16 months. But as more electronic purposes emerge to help patients fight and prevent diabetes and other problems, itas very important to examine their effectiveness.AAs this study stresses, real behavior change is amazingly complicated, and the methods that eventually work will undoubtedly be the ones that help patients figure out how their unique health changes could sustainably match the rest of these lives. Subscriber Information Customer Content arises from GigaOM Pro, an innovative way of market research minus the high price. Visit some of our studies a subscription.