Turkish mobile operator Turkcell and researchers from the Istanbul University have been testing how the wireless-enabled diabetes device, Turkcell Healthmeter, would impact patient outcomes.

Said device comes with its own cellular connectivity (so it works without a phone) and is able to pair with different Bluetooth-enabled blood glucose meters to send data from patients to their physicians.

The study involved some 200 people with diabetes all of whom followed their regular drug regimen. Half of the participants used the Healthmeter, which sent an SMS to physicians of any irregularities.

Those equipped with the device saw their average HbA1c levels (a three-month blood sugar average) decrease by 9%, according to Turkcell.Those equipped with the device saw their average HbA1c levels (a three-month blood sugar average) decrease by 9%, according to Turkcell. What’s more, patients in this group also experienced an average 0.3% change in HbA1c values, 16% decrease in the average pre-prandial blood glucose level, and 25% increase in drug adherence treatment.

Turkey has about 7 million diabetics, and the country spends about 13 billion Turkish liras (about $6 billion) per year to treat these patients. Devices like the Healthmeter promise both the better care with its continuous monitoring capability, as well as more efficient use of [healthcare] resources.

[Via: MobiHealthNews]