Wearable monitoring device based on an internet management platform improves metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetes patients: a prospective pilot study

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This pilot study aimed to prospectively investigate the effects of a wearable monitoring device, based on an Internet management platform, on the comprehensive management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods

A total of 120 hospitalized patients with T2DM were enrolled and randomly divided into the control group and the intervention group. Patients in the control group only received conventional diabetes treatments, while patients in the intervention group were provided with a wearable monitoring device in addition to conventional diabetes treatments. Moreover, the wearable device could connect to an Internet platform for diabetes management and upload self-monitoring data. All patients were followed for 3 months. The changes in parameters representing glucose metabolism, blood lipids, renal function, and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups. All results were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.

Results

One hundred twenty subjects met all criteria and agreed to participate in this study. During the follow-up period, 5 and 4 subjects were lost to follow-up in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Compared with the control group, the blood glucose of the intervention group decreased significantly after 3 months (p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis found that females, those younger than 60 years, with baseline glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of 8% or greater, and patients with good adherence showed significant improvements in HbA1c (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in blood lipid and renal function. The intervention group showed a better adherence rate to blood glucose, comprehensive adherence rate, and diabetes treatment satisfaction (p < 0.05). One subject in the intervention group and two subjects in the control group reported mild hypoglycemia. No other adverse events such as infections and skin allergies occurred in the two groups.

Conclusion

The intervention of a wearable monitoring device based on an Internet management platform significantly improved blood glucose control in T2DM patients, as well as the overall adherence rate and patient satisfaction with treatment.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT04973644.

KEYWORDS:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• wearable monitoring device
• internet platform
• comprehensive management
• prospective pilot study

Declaration of financial/other relationships

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: Yunfeng Shen, Ping Peng. Data curation: Yunfeng Shen, Ping Peng. Formal analysis: Yunfeng Shen, Ping Peng. Methodology: Ping Peng. Software: Ping Peng. Validation: Yunfeng Shen, Ping Peng. Investigation: Yunfeng Shen, Ping Peng. Writing – original draft: Ping Peng. Writing – review & editing: Yunfeng Shen, Haixia Xiong, Ping Peng.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2024.2366156

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Key R&D Program of Jiangxi Province [grant number 20192BBG70027].