Dr. Jennifer Dyer, of Nationwide Children’s Hospital realized just how valuable of a tool text messages could be with her adolescent patients. Statistics show that 75% of preteens and teens have cell phones and 50% of them have unlimited text messaging.
Her study showed a greater increase in the management of her patient’s diabetes. The study included her sending individual messages to her patients to remind them to check their glucose and take their medications. She was also able to provide them with daily support and be available to receive text messages from them.
Being a teenager is hard enough then you throw diabetes in the mix, teens tend to deal with the emotional part of their life first, and often times the physical part (diabetes) is left hanging until they have a spike or drop in their glucose and have no choice but to “take care of it.”
Dr. Dyer said she saw an overall improvement in the diabetes management of her teen patients just by sending the quick text messages. The teens stopped what they were doing and did what they had to do.
An automated text messaging system is in the works so that all teens with a cell phone can receive the same benefits as her patients do and hopefully there will be a great improvement seen with all teen diabetics as a result of the system.
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