Evaluating the Feasibility of Using M-Health to Improve Serum Glucose Logs of Women With Gestational Diabetes

Study Question: Does use of a Bluetooth enabled serum glucose monitor in conjunction with a mobile health application improve pregnant women's glucose log completion? This pilot study proposes that the use of Bluetooth glucometers and mobile health applications will be feasible and well accepted by the target population.

Methods: This project utilizes a quasi-experimental pre-post design with up to 25 participants. Over the course of eight weeks, participants will collect serum glucose logs (SGL) for four weeks using usual care followed by SGLs for four weeks using Bluetooth-enabled glucometers and the iGluco application. Measures will include a demographic sheet and completed SGL. Descriptive statistics of the appropriate level will be used to summarize the data collected. Glucose log completeness will be calculated using the total number of entries required for the period between visits divided by the number of actual entries. For example, if the participant has had 14 days between appointments, 56 entries would be expected, if the patient only records 40 results the completeness score would be 0.71. Raw data will be reported in the final manuscript under results. The data anticipated from this study include the number of women who consented to participate, average education level, primary languages, age range with mean age, the number of women on medication or diet only control, average completion score for usual care phase, and average completion score for the intervention phase. Data will also be generated and reported for the number of patients that did not bring their logs but brought their smartphones or glucometer for transcription and the number of patients that dropped out of the study before completion of eight weeks of glucose logs, and a mean satisfaction score calculated. Eligibility for this study includes women who are at least 18 years old, competent for consent, have gestational diabetes, speak English, have ownership of a smartphone capable of running the mobile health application and are willing to download the application.

Implications: This study has the potential to demonstrate the feasibility of improved Self-management of GDM and provide the groundwork for future studies. The use of Bluetooth enabled glucose monitors with mobile health applications to aid in efficient and complete SMBG management may translate to a decrease in adverse outcomes.