Smartphones Help Improve the Health of Elderly Diabetics in China

A new study explains how cellular smartphones can be used to help elderly diabetics manage their health and learn more about their condition.

Researchers at Saint Louis University (SLU; MO, USA) and Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA, USA) designed the Chinese Aged Diabetic Assistant (CADA), an interactive diabetes self-management system that enables diabetics to track their blood glucose, weight, diet, exercise, mood, and blood pressure via interactive games and easy-to-use logging features. The games vary in purpose; for example, the researchers created a "food pyramid" type game, which encourages gamers to eat a balanced diet, limit high-sugar foods, and watch their daily intake of fat and salt. Other applications include, for example, a trivia game and a tile matching game, in which gamers connect the necessary components for a healthy lifestyle.

The researchers say that smartphones can make tracking one's health easier and more convenient, and in the future, CADA users will be able to share information with their providers and receive important health reminders. The researchers are also working on Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a scale that communicates with the phone to record and track daily measurements and a blood sugar monitor that automatically records daily readings on the phone. The technology was presented at the mHealth Summit, held during October 2009 in Washington (DC, USA).

"We know that patients with chronic illnesses who are actively involved in their health care have better outcomes, yet this can be a challenging task. Mobile technologies can empower elderly people to better understand diabetes, track their health indicators more closely and follow a healthier lifestyle,” said Maggie Jiao Ma, Ph.D., an assistant professor at SLU's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation, and Technology.

"This project did not start out as a gaming project, but we did a lot of groundwork, from looking at the health care infrastructure in China to conducting focus groups with older diabetics and interviewing various providers, and found that gaming was a persuasive way to engage patients in managing their personal health,” added coauthor Cindy LeRouge, Ph.D., an associate professor of decision sciences and information technology management at SLU.

For the aging Chinese population, diabetes is a costly, chronic condition and a major cause of disability, especially in rural areas where diabetics have less access to health care, and there are many misconceptions about the disease and proper treatment.

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