Connally-Robinson, Patricia2019-05-282019-05-282019-05-28http://hdl.handle.net/10790/4640The 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.52en-USAn error occurred on the license name.DiabetesNon-insulin-dependent diabetesDoctoral Project