By Dr. Chinta SidharthanMay 6 2024Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM In a recent study published in BMC Medicine, a team of South Korean researchers evaluated whether a smartphone application for maintaining personal health records encouraged physical activity, improved step counts and glycemic control, and controlled body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Exercise and adequate physical activity have been consistently recommended as one of the most effective ways to manage diabetes and other metabolic disorders such as obesity. About the study In the present study, the researchers examined whether monitoring step counts using a smartphone-based personal health record app and encouragement provided through text messages to increase physical activity had a positive impact on step counts and glycemic and body weight control over a total period of 24 weeks in patients with type 2 diabetes.
The study was conducted over three periods — the run-in period lasting one week and randomized treatment and extension periods of 12 weeks each. The secondary outcomes included changes in HbA1c, fasting glucose levels, physical activity levels, body weight, and a range of lipid levels such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein.