Social media and diabetes: can Facebook and Skype improve glucose control in patients with type 1 diabetes on pump therapy? One-year experience
Journal
Diabetes care
Date Issued
2015-04
Author(s)
DOI
10.2337/dc14-2487
Abstract
The aims of the study were to evaluate
results from social media (Skype and
Facebook) and CareLink software as tools
to improve diabetes control in patients
with type 1 diabetes using insulin pumps
with glucose sensors. To our knowledge,
this is the first study where Facebook is
used as treatment alternative to regular
clinic visits.
A total of 56 children and adolescents
with type 1 diabetes, ages 14–23, were
randomized in two groups: Regular
group and Internet group. The Regular
group is composed of 29 patients who
were treated using standard medical
protocol with regular visits at clinic.
Data were uploaded at the clinic and
interventions (pump settings, basal bolus insulin, and education) were given to
the patient by health care professionals.
The Internet group was composed of 27
patients who were treated using CareLink software (Medtronic Diabetes).
Data were uploaded by the patient at
home and interventions (same as Regular group) were given via Facebook
(chats) and Skype (sound and video).
Both groups had improved A1C at 12
months (Regular group: 7.7 6 1.6% [61 6
17.5 mmol/mol] at baseline vs. 6.6 6
1.5% [49 6 16.4 mmol/mol] at 12 months;
Internet group: 7.8 6 1.9% [62 6 20.8
mmol/mol] at baseline vs. 6.4 6 1.6%
[46 6 17.5 mmol/mol] at 12 months,
P , 0.05 at 12 months) (Table 1). Internet
visits were performed with Facebook
(54%), Skype (12%), and both Facebook
and Skype (34%).
Improvement occurred in the first 6
months and was maintained for 6 additional months. There were no differences
in acute complications (diabetic ketoacidosis and severe hypoglycemia events),
total daily dose of insulin, and weight
change in both groups at 12 months.
Personalization, presentation, and participation in social media and health
care (5) can be tailored to the priorities
of the patient Every Internet visit was
personalized with patient needs (appointment date and time) and used active patient participation in the decision-making
process of diabetes management.
We found that social media use
allows patients to gain diabetes knowledge and information and interact in
their daily insulin adjustments. Moreover, it could help patients cope better
with their daily life. This brief trial suggests that patients prefer to communicate with their health care providers
using social media. Facebook and Skype
can improve diabetes control similar to
regular clinic visits.
results from social media (Skype and
Facebook) and CareLink software as tools
to improve diabetes control in patients
with type 1 diabetes using insulin pumps
with glucose sensors. To our knowledge,
this is the first study where Facebook is
used as treatment alternative to regular
clinic visits.
A total of 56 children and adolescents
with type 1 diabetes, ages 14–23, were
randomized in two groups: Regular
group and Internet group. The Regular
group is composed of 29 patients who
were treated using standard medical
protocol with regular visits at clinic.
Data were uploaded at the clinic and
interventions (pump settings, basal bolus insulin, and education) were given to
the patient by health care professionals.
The Internet group was composed of 27
patients who were treated using CareLink software (Medtronic Diabetes).
Data were uploaded by the patient at
home and interventions (same as Regular group) were given via Facebook
(chats) and Skype (sound and video).
Both groups had improved A1C at 12
months (Regular group: 7.7 6 1.6% [61 6
17.5 mmol/mol] at baseline vs. 6.6 6
1.5% [49 6 16.4 mmol/mol] at 12 months;
Internet group: 7.8 6 1.9% [62 6 20.8
mmol/mol] at baseline vs. 6.4 6 1.6%
[46 6 17.5 mmol/mol] at 12 months,
P , 0.05 at 12 months) (Table 1). Internet
visits were performed with Facebook
(54%), Skype (12%), and both Facebook
and Skype (34%).
Improvement occurred in the first 6
months and was maintained for 6 additional months. There were no differences
in acute complications (diabetic ketoacidosis and severe hypoglycemia events),
total daily dose of insulin, and weight
change in both groups at 12 months.
Personalization, presentation, and participation in social media and health
care (5) can be tailored to the priorities
of the patient Every Internet visit was
personalized with patient needs (appointment date and time) and used active patient participation in the decision-making
process of diabetes management.
We found that social media use
allows patients to gain diabetes knowledge and information and interact in
their daily insulin adjustments. Moreover, it could help patients cope better
with their daily life. This brief trial suggests that patients prefer to communicate with their health care providers
using social media. Facebook and Skype
can improve diabetes control similar to
regular clinic visits.