Accessibility and Openness to Diabetes Management Support With Mobile Phones: Survey Study of People With Type 1 Diabetes Using Advanced Diabetes Technologies

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the feasibility of mobile health (mHealth) support among people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using advanced diabetes technologies including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems and hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps (HCLs). OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate patient access and openness to receiving mHealth diabetes support in people with T1D using CGM systems or HCLs. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among patients with T1D using CGM systems or HCLs managed in an academic medical center. Participants reported information regarding their mobile device use; cellular call, SMS text message, or internet connectivity; and openness to various channels of mHealth communication (smartphone apps, SMS text messages, and interactive voice response [IVR] calls). Participants’ demographic characteristics and CGM data were collected from medical records. The analyses focused on differences in openness to mHealth and mHealth communication channels across groups defined by demographic variables and measures of glycemic control. RESULTS: Among all participants (N=310; female: n=198, 63.9%; mean age 45, SD 16 years), 98.1% (n=304) reported active cellphone use and 80% (n=248) were receptive to receiving mHealth support to improve glucose control. Among participants receptive to mHealth support, 98% (243/248) were willing to share CGM glucose data for mHealth diabetes self-care assistance. Most (176/248, 71%) were open to receiving messages via apps, 56% (139/248) were open to SMS text messages, and 12.1% (30/248) were open to IVR calls. Older participants were more likely to prefer SMS text messages (P=.009) and IVR calls (P=.03) than younger participants. CONCLUSIONS: Most people with T1D who use advanced diabetes technologies have access to cell phones and are receptive to receiving mHealth support to improve diabetes control.