Australian researchers develop new mobile app for diabetes patients

SYDNEY, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Queensland researchers are trialling a new mobile app which helps people with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels and enables health professionals to manage their patients remotely. University of Queensland research fellow, Dr Farhad Fatehi said in a statement on Wednesday that the app is currently undergoing a clinical trial at the diabetes clinic in Princess Alexandra Hospital in Queensland. "Blood glucose readings are sent directly via bluetooth technology from the glucose meter to a smartphone and then immediately to secure servers on the Internet where doctors and nurses can access the readings," Fatehi said. "This is a faster and more accurate way of relaying the information than patients having to write out their results and then read or send these on to health professionals for assessment," he said. Developed through collaboration between the university, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Australian eHealth Research Center and Queensland Health, the app could streamline care for Australians living with diabetes. "The app gives patients immediate feedback on their blood glucose readings through color codes, charts and tables," Farhad said. "Patients can use this data to more accurately assess and understand their own condition, putting them front and center of their own care." "They are more empowered, enabled and have more control over their situation," he added. At present, there are more than 1.5 million Australians have diabetes and each year about 100,000 people are newly diagnosed with this lifelong disease. "This represents a major cost to Australia's health system and puts extra stress on health professionals," Farhad said. "The app could allow health professionals to treat more patients at any one time, with greater confidence in the data." "This could mean a considerable reduction in healthcare costs for diabetes every year," he said. Enditem