Gamification for Diabetes Type 1 Management: A Review of the Features of Free Apps in Google Play and App Stores

Figures & data

Figure 1 General flow diagram of the search methods.

Figure 2 Detailed flow diagram of the search process.

Table 1 Description of the Applications That Met the Inclusion Criterion

Name of the Game	Description of the Game	Features of the Game	Game Themes	Game Mechanics	Operating Systems
Jerry the Bear	It seeks to educate children about type 1 diabetes by taking care of the application’s character. In addition, taking care of the character will enable the child to gain hands-on experience with diabetes management through playing. Children can check the character’s blood glucose level, managing insulin by administrating the doses using pen or pump, and feed the character with a variety of food.	Includes storyteller Unlock story by completing a set of tasks It supports family sharing feature for up to six family members. (for iOS) Targeted age group +4, 6–8	Taking care of a character	Points	Both Android and iOS
Pandabetic	It aims to educate type 1 diabetic children through entertainment. The children need to maintain the glucose level of the character through managing insulin and carbohydrates.	Available in three languages: (English, Spanish, Italian) Social interaction through the support of game center. (for iOS) It supports family sharing feature for up to six family members. (for iOS) Targeted age group +3	Taking care of a character	Levels and points	Both Android and iOS
Diapets	The game encourages the diabetic child to check the blood levels on time, help to overcome the fear of insulin needles and to count carbs. This is done through taking care of a baby dragon character.	Notification feature for reminding for the eating time and for using blood glucose meter. It supports family sharing feature for up to six family members. Targeted age group +4, 6–8	Taking care of a character	Points	iOS
Commander Gage	The game seeks to educate diabetic children about the importance of taking insulin for their condition. The game is mainly about a character that collect insulinium to save diabetic children.	Get the rest of the characters by collecting more insulinium. Social interaction through the support of game center. It supports family sharing feature for up to six family members. Targeted age group +4	Taking care of a character	Points	iOS
GlucoZor World	The game aims to provide education about diabetes in general by taking care of the game character. The user can choose the color and the weight of the character. The user can feed the character, entertain him by many activities that need to be unlocked, and managing his blood glucose level.	Available in four languages. (English, Dutch, Italian, Spanish) It includes quizzes It supports family sharing feature for up to six family members. Targeted age group +3	Taking care of a character	Levels, points and dashboard	Both Android and iOS
Diabetes control	The game is generally a glycemic index which include certain type of food and their amount of sugar. The user shall choose among two type of food which include less amount of sugar.	More than 30 comparison of more than 60 types of food Great to memorize Targeted age group +3	Quizzes	N/A	Android
Gluco Bear	The game aims to provide education regarding the best nutrition for diabetic patients. It involves a bear which get through different levels by matching healthy food and keeping the blood glucose level low.	Available in three languages. (English, German, Portuguese) Includes quizzes More than 100 types of food with different sugar levels. Targeted age group +3	Quizzes	Levels	Android
سكري الأطفال	This application supports the game features. It is used for diabetic children, their guardians and their teachers. It has a reminder for checking blood glucose level, doses time, and appointments.	It includes five types of games It provides information to aware children regarding diabetes includes stories and movies about diabetes It supports family sharing feature for up to six family members. (for iOS) Targeted age group +4.	Story telling	N/A	Both Android and iOS

Table 2 “App” Features Best Suited for Saudi Diabetic Patients

1	The m-Health “apps” should be able to send notifications to alleviate type 1 diabetic patients.
2	The “app” must have some features that can show how, why and where the insulin injections are used. For example, locations (abdomen the applications must indicate where are the anatomy and thigh) for administrating an insulin injection.
3	It is important to include an education feature to clarify and explain how children and their parents should collaborate in his process.
4	Also, it is necessary to incorporate a health education feature tailored for Ramadan religious conceptions. For instance, a story that can promote the awareness of the diabetic children such as how the child can take care of himself during fasting hours.
5	Alike, a notification feature that encourage children for commitment of the five prayers since it’s considered as a physical activity as well as religious in Saudi Arabia
6	It is necessary to use “Mulita” language for social interaction
7	The application must also contain a message about social interaction and family support that are fundamental elements in this process of knowledge, improvement and recovery from this disease.