Uncontrolled Hyperglycemia Predicts Ventilatory Support and Duration of Hospital Stay in People with Diabetes and COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Digital therapeutic platforms in diabetes aim to improve condition self-management and clinical outcomes. Engagement actions are well evaluated by digital monitoring or by logging iterations, and clinical outcomes by target range measurements. A new product modification in the Dario application included development of in-App educational interactions about healthy eating habits. In addition, user experience feature that help users understand the context of their blood glucose measurement was developed. This study evaluated the effect of the digital product modification. Method: A retrospective data evaluation study was performed on DarioTM members during the time before and after product modification. Digital engagement and clinical outcomes were measured on first to six months per each period to examine if habit formation was achieved. Results: A group of total 9794 users who had enrolled in a membership for 6 months or longer was evaluated. The ratio of measurements logged with context (fasting, pre-meal, post-meal, bedtime) was increased significantly by 56% in the first month following product modification on average (51.3%. vs. 32.8%) (P<0.001). Differences in the level of digital engagement remained stable over a 6 months period. The average number of days between measurements, i.e., "recency" decreased by 21% on average (2.71 vs. 3.45). Average ratios of high readings (180-400 mg/dL) were reduced by 12% on average over six months. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that product updates to digital platforms that guide on healthy eating and help users understand their glucose readings in context may assist users in improving the management of their diabetes.