Just about everyone owns one, and now, new research shows cell phones may play an important role in helping children with diabetes remember to check their blood sugar.
Lori Laffel, M.D., from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, conducted a study to determine if text messages sent via cell phone and over the Internet would help children with diabetes.
Preliminary results from Dr. Laffel's study show children who received reminders to check their sugar via cell phone checked more often than those who were reminded via the computer.
Dr. Laffel told Ivanhoe, "The study is just ending now, but a preliminary look at the data suggests that children who were given the cell phone reminders were able to respond more readily, and that's not a surprise because kids have a cell phone with them almost at all times, where they're not walking around with a computer."
The children were sent the reminders at the times during the day they felt were most advantageous.
"So, if a child had a hard time remembering to check blood sugar before supper, because it's a very hectic time in households, people are coming and going ...
there's a very gentle reminder, 'Now, would be a great time to check your blood sugar.'
They would receive this message at a time predetermined," Dr. Laffel says.
Dr. Laffel points out children with diabetes typically do not check their blood sugar often enough.
She says, on average, kids check between two and three times a day.
"I think that technology is our best friend.
We're always going to see more improvements in technology to help us manage diabetes," concludes Dr. Laffel.