Technology helps patients with diabetes

     The University of Maryland School of Medicine tested the effectiveness of combining regular patient checking and documentation of their glucose levels with coaching via computing devices. The test included use of the Diabetes Manager System from Baltimore-based WellDoc Inc., which received Food and Drug Administration approval in July 2010 and will be commercially available this fall.

     The application enables Type 2 diabetic patients to enter their blood sugar readings into a secure Web site via a computer or their mobile phone and receive real-time feedback on what they should eat and other ways they can help stabilize their blood sugar. The software also can alert patients when they need to test their levels.

     In the test, the mean decline in glucose was 1.9 percent in the group using the Web and mobile technology and 0.7 percent in the control group. A one percent drop in glucose levels can reduce risk factors by 37 percent, according to research previously published in the British Medical Journal.