Increased self-management in type-two diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetic patients with the use of social media

Abstract

The number of people in the United States that are diagnosed with type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is approximately30.3 million, while another 84.1 million (1/3 of the U.S. population) are either pre-diabetic or have not yet been diagnosed. If these pre-diabetic people don’t change, they will likely become a T2DM within five years. The methods of education and self-management currently being used in the United States is clearly not working as hoped. Diabetes remains the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. and is a major comorbidity in patients suffering from heart disease, stroke, and poor circulation. T2DM is a chronic disease that can be controlled with diet and lifestyle adaptations. Support in initiating and maintaining changes is mandatory. The National Diabetic Prevention Program was a yearlong program that included a behavior change program. End results showed better eating habits and increase in daily exercise, which means a reduced risk of T2DM. When people are shown what and how to change, with encouragement they can succeed. A social support system that provides true, proven ways to decrease blood sugar is a great way to assist T2DM patients in becoming healthier, with fewer complications A readily available tool to help people self-manage DM needs to be utilized. A tool that is used frequently and is readily by their side most hours a day. A survey from 2017 (Smith, 2017), indicates nearly all Americans aged 18 – 50 own a smart phone (96 percent), and ownership only decreases slightly with age. The vast majority (75 percent) of Americans, aged 50-64 years old and over 50% of people over 65 years old own a smartphone. This project looks at the potential of using social media as a tool to enable a better self-management in patients with pre-diabetes and T2DM.