An interactive educational app focused on the role of exercise in Type 2 diabetes management may successfully encourage patients to engage in healthy behaviors, according to a study published in the journal JMIR Diabetes.
For the study, a team led by researchers at Salt Lake City-based University of Utah developed an online app to educate Type 2 diabetes patients about the role of physical activity in managing their condition.
On the app, each participant enters their blood sugar value and basic vital information, which the program uses to construct an average blood sugar curve. The participant then draws a line along the curve to illustrate how they expect their blood sugar to change following a set duration of exercise, such as a 30-minute period of activity. The program proceeds to reveal the actual change in standard blood sugar for the set period.
For most participants, their motivation to exercise increased following interaction with the app. On average, the 1,335 participants who submitted complete data to the website increased their plans to walk by more than 30 minutes for the next week.