Do Smartphone Applications Hold the Secret to Reducing Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes?

Abstract

In this article in JDST, Feuerstein-Simon and colleagues examine use of a smartphone app in improving hypoglycemia awareness in type 1 diabetes (T1D). They conclude that their smartphone app, HypoMap™, has the potential to increase hypoglycemia awareness and reduce time spent with hypoglycemia in a cohort of long-standing patients with type 1 diabetes. The underlying assumption is that if patients can identify the precipitating cause, they can recognize symptoms better and potentially change behavior to prevent future hypoglycemic events. Potential limitations of this intervention include technical issues, patient burden from data entry with use of an app, and concern that this type of intervention may not be sustainable over time. While results of this pilot study suggest HypoMap may be an effective intervention in preventing hypoglycemia, further studies of increased sample size are needed to confirm these findings.