Mobile phone tech 'could aid diabetes management'

A new mobile phone technology could be instrumental in helping patients to manage their diabetes, or other chronic conditions.

In one of the first studies to examine mobile health technology, researchers at the Maryland School of Medicine found that an interactive piece of computer software helped patients to better control their blood-sugar.

Findings indicate that patients using the mobile technology were able to lower their hemoglobin A1c - a key measure for blood sugar control - by 1.9 per cent over 12 months.

Lead researcher professor Charlene Quinn said the results were "very encouraging" and suggests that there is potential for broad application of mobile phones and other communications technology in healthcare.

She added: "Mobile health has the potential to help patients better self-manage any chronic disease, not just diabetes.

"We tell patients that they can meet these goals if they eat a healthy diet, exercise daily and take their medication as directed, but we don't really give them the tools to do that."

Diabetes affects 2.8 million people in the UK, although a further one million people have the condition but are not aware of it.

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