JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Traditional lifestyle interventions have shown limited success in improving diabetes related outcomes. Digital interventions with continuously available support and personalized educational content may offer unique advantages for self-management and glycemic control.

Objective:

In the present study, we evaluate changes in glycemic control among participants with type 2 diabetes who enrolled in a digital diabetes management program.

Methods:

The study employed a single-arm, retrospective design. A total of 950 participants with a HbA1c baseline value of at least 7.0% enrolled in the Vida Health Diabetes Management Program. The intervention included one-to-one remote sessions with a Vida provider and structured lessons and tools related to diabetes management. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was the primary outcome measure. A total of 258 (27.2%) participants had a follow-up HbA1c completed at least 90 days from program start. Paired t-tests were utilized to evaluate changes in HbA1c between baseline and follow-up. Additionally, a cluster-robust multiple regression analysis was employed to evaluate the relationship between high and low program engagement and HbA1c change. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to evaluate difference in HbA1c as a function of measurement period (ie, pre-Vida enrollment, baseline, and post-enrollment follow-up).

Results:

We observed a significant reduction in HbA1c of -0.81 points between baseline (M = 8.68, SD = 1.7) and follow-up (M = 7.88, SD = 1.46), t(257) = 7.71, P = .00). Among participants considered high-risk (baseline HbA1c >= 8), there was an average reduction of -1.44 points between baseline (M = 9.73, SD = 1.68) and follow-up (M = 8.29, SD = 1.64), t(139) = 9.14, P = .00). Additionally, average follow-up HbA1c (M = 7.82, SD = 1.41) was significantly lower than pre-enrollment HbA1c (M = 8.12, SD = 1.46), F(2, 210) = 22.90, P = .00. There was also significant effect of engagement on HbA1c change, β = -.60, P = .00, such that high engagement was associated with a greater decrease in HbA1c (M = -1.02, SD = 1.60) compared to low-engagement, (M = -.61, SD = 1.72).

Conclusions:

The present study revealed clinically meaningful improvements in glycemic control among participants enrolled in a digital diabetes management intervention. Higher program engagement was associated with greater improvements in HbA1c. The findings of the present study suggest that digital health intervention may represent an accessible, scalable, and effective solution to diabetes management and improved HbA1c. The study was limited by a non-randomized, observational design and limited post-enrollment follow-up data.