IN AN era where everyone is glued to their screens, it turns out that smartphones might just be the new superheroes in the battle against prediabetes.
With the global rates of this condition on the rise, researchers are now turning to digital means to prevent the slide to type 2 diabetes.
The researchers behind the study, published in Plus One, are not new to the digital game; after all, there's an app for everything these days.
They scoured through four databases - Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, and Scopus - and pulled out 29 studies that dared to tackle prediabetes with digital swagger.
These included everything from text messages that nudge you to ditch that donut, to mobile apps that probably send virtual side-eyes if you skip the gym, and even web-based platforms where you can share your glucose levels without sharing your identity.
Turns out, nine of these were the crme de la crme of research methods - randomised controlled trials.
Those nine boasted about improvements in blood sugar levels, weight loss, and how many steps participants took (hopefully away from the fridge).
However, about one-third of the studies admitted that their flashy initial results didn't stick around as long as the extra pounds sometimes do.
The verdict?
Health apps are a swipe away, but figuring out which ones are effective is the next big step.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 17 May 24
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