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Smartphone for Managing Diabetes
Can J Diabetes 40 (2016) 108
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Canadian Journal of Diabetes journal homepage: w w w. c a n a d i a n j o u r n a l o f d i a b e t e s . c o m
Letter to the Editor
Smartphone for Managing Diabetes To the Editor: The recent report on smartphones for managing diabetes (1) is very interesting. In fact, smartphones have become a device used daily, and their application in diabetic medicine is to be expected. Domhardt et al noted that using smartphones can be helpful in nutritional training (2) and estimation of food carbohydrate content (3) for patients with diabetes. However, not all reports show its advantages. Opposite findings are reported in some publications. A recent report by Drion et al showed that smartphone application “yields no alterations in quality of life compared to the standard paper diary (4).” In addition, some smartphone applications such as “apps for calculating insulin dose” can be dangerous (5). Therefore, the efficacy and safety of using smartphones for managing diabetes have to be systematically accessed to a greater degree. Furthermore, the cost of smartphone use can be high and not affordable for patients with diabetes who live in poor settings. The price of smartphones can be considered high for many patients in Africa and Asia. Not only efficacy but also cost-effectiveness have to be considered. Also, the problem of connectivity of smartphones, signal absence, can be expected in remote areas. In conclusion, in each setting, a plan to
overcome the possible obstacles is required for promoting the successful application of smartphone use for managing diabetes. Beuy Joob, PhD Viroj Wiwanitkit, MD Sanitation 1 Medical Academic Center, Bangkok, Thailand
References 1. Baskaran V, Prescod F, Dong L. A smartphone-based cloud computing tool for managing type 1 diabetes in Ontarians. Can J Diabetes 2015;39:200–3. 2. Domhardt M, Tiefengrabner M, Dinic R, et al. Training of carbohydrate estimation for people with diabetes using mobile augmented reality. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2015;9:516–24. 3. Anthimopoulos M, Dehais J, Shevchik S, et al. Computer vision-based carbohydrate estimation for type 1 patients with diabetes using smartphones. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2015;9:507–15. 4. Huckvale K, Adomaviciute S, Prieto JT, et al. Smartphone apps for calculating insulin dose: A systematic assessment. BMC Med 2015;13:106. 5. Drion I, Pameijer LR, van Dijk PR, et al. The effects of a mobile phone application on quality of life in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2015;9:1086–91.
1499-2671 © 2016 Canadian Diabetes Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2015.08.008
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Canadian Journal of Diabetes journal homepage: w w w. c a n a d i a n j o u r n a l o f d i a b e t e s . c o m
Letter to the Editor
Smartphone for Managing Diabetes To the Editor: The recent report on smartphones for managing diabetes (1) is very interesting. In fact, smartphones have become a device used daily, and their application in diabetic medicine is to be expected. Domhardt et al noted that using smartphones can be helpful in nutritional training (2) and estimation of food carbohydrate content (3) for patients with diabetes. However, not all reports show its advantages. Opposite findings are reported in some publications. A recent report by Drion et al showed that smartphone application “yields no alterations in quality of life compared to the standard paper diary (4).” In addition, some smartphone applications such as “apps for calculating insulin dose” can be dangerous (5). Therefore, the efficacy and safety of using smartphones for managing diabetes have to be systematically accessed to a greater degree. Furthermore, the cost of smartphone use can be high and not affordable for patients with diabetes who live in poor settings. The price of smartphones can be considered high for many patients in Africa and Asia. Not only efficacy but also cost-effectiveness have to be considered. Also, the problem of connectivity of smartphones, signal absence, can be expected in remote areas. In conclusion, in each setting, a plan to
overcome the possible obstacles is required for promoting the successful application of smartphone use for managing diabetes. Beuy Joob, PhD Viroj Wiwanitkit, MD Sanitation 1 Medical Academic Center, Bangkok, Thailand
References 1. Baskaran V, Prescod F, Dong L. A smartphone-based cloud computing tool for managing type 1 diabetes in Ontarians. Can J Diabetes 2015;39:200–3. 2. Domhardt M, Tiefengrabner M, Dinic R, et al. Training of carbohydrate estimation for people with diabetes using mobile augmented reality. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2015;9:516–24. 3. Anthimopoulos M, Dehais J, Shevchik S, et al. Computer vision-based carbohydrate estimation for type 1 patients with diabetes using smartphones. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2015;9:507–15. 4. Huckvale K, Adomaviciute S, Prieto JT, et al. Smartphone apps for calculating insulin dose: A systematic assessment. BMC Med 2015;13:106. 5. Drion I, Pameijer LR, van Dijk PR, et al. The effects of a mobile phone application on quality of life in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2015;9:1086–91.
1499-2671 © 2016 Canadian Diabetes Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2015.08.008