Yoshihara Shota, Takahashi Kayoko, Kawaguchi Hiroyuki, Harai Nozomi, Tsuchiya Kyoichiro
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan, 81 042-788-9694.
A10 Lab Inc, Tokyo, Japan.
JMIR Form Res. 2025 May 20;9:e72659. doi: 10.2196/72659.
Controlling glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels can be challenging for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Peer support promotes HbA1c control, and a digital peer-supported app designed for group interactions may enable patients with T2DM to encourage one another to achieve better HbA1c outcomes. However, no studies have investigated the use of digital peer-supported apps to control HbA1c levels in patients with T2DM.
This pilot study aimed to explore the effects of a digital peer-supported app on HbA1c control in patients with T2DM.
This prospective single-arm pilot study enrolled patients with T2DM who owned smartphones and visited medical institutions in Japan. During the 3-month intervention, participants used a digital peer-supported app in addition to receiving standard care. This app allowed participants to share activity logs and concerns via a chat function to improve HbA1c levels through mutual engagement and encouragement. The primary outcome was the change in HbA1c levels, measured at health care facilities at baseline and after 3 months. The secondary outcomes were body weight and blood pressure, with the most recent data obtained from hospitals and clinics. Physical activity (≥1 hour/day) was assessed at the same time points using a self-reported questionnaire.
The study included 21 participants with a median age of 56 (IQR 51-61) years, of which 13 (61.9%) were female. After using the digital peer-supported app for 3 months, the participants' HbA1c levels significantly decreased from 7.1% (SD 0.6%) at baseline to 6.9% (SD 0.1%) (P=.04). Similarly, participants' body weight decreased from 70.7 (SD 12.7) kg to 69.9 (SD 12.4) kg (P =.004) through app use. Although blood pressure decreased slightly from 128.2 (SD 12.5) mm Hg to 126.0 (SD 12.9) mm Hg, this change was not statistically significant (P=.20). Additionally, the proportion of participants engaged in ≥1 hour of daily physical activity significantly increased from 23.5% (n=4) to 58.5% (n=10) (P=.03).
In addition to receiving standard clinical care, the use of a digital peer-supported app may significantly lower HbA1c levels in patients with T2DM by promoting healthy behaviors.
对于2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者而言，控制糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）水平可能具有挑战性。同伴支持有助于控制HbA1c水平，一款专为群组互动设计的数字同伴支持应用程序或许能使T2DM患者相互鼓励，以实现更好的HbA1c控制效果。然而，尚无研究调查数字同伴支持应用程序在T2DM患者中用于控制HbA1c水平的情况。
本试点研究旨在探讨数字同伴支持应用程序对T2DM患者HbA1c控制的影响。
这项前瞻性单臂试点研究纳入了拥有智能手机且在日本医疗机构就诊的T2DM患者。在为期3个月的干预期间，参与者除接受标准护理外，还使用一款数字同伴支持应用程序。该应用程序允许参与者通过聊天功能分享活动日志和担忧，以通过相互参与和鼓励来改善HbA1c水平。主要结局是HbA1c水平的变化，在基线时和3个月后在医疗机构进行测量。次要结局是体重和血压，使用从医院和诊所获得的最新数据。在相同时间点使用自我报告问卷评估身体活动情况（≥1小时/天）。
该研究纳入了21名参与者，中位年龄为56岁（四分位间距51 - 61岁），其中13名（61.9%）为女性。在使用数字同伴支持应用程序3个月后，参与者的HbA1c水平从基线时的7.1%（标准差0.6%）显著降至6.9%（标准差0.1%）（P = 0.04）。同样，通过使用应用程序，参与者的体重从70.7（标准差12.7）kg降至69.9（标准差12.4）kg（P = 0.004）。尽管血压从128.2（标准差12.5）mmHg略有下降至126.0（标准差12.9）mmHg，但这种变化无统计学意义（P = 0.20）。此外，每天进行≥1小时身体活动的参与者比例从23.5%（n = 4）显著增加至58.5%（n = 10）（P = 0.03）。
除接受标准临床护理外，使用数字同伴支持应用程序可能通过促进健康行为显著降低T2DM患者的HbA1c水平。
