Diabetes Management Using Mobile Technology

This assignment delves into the impact of mobile health (mHealth) applications on diabetes management. It examines various mHealth tools used for glycemic control, telehealth consultations, patient education, and medication adherence. The analysis draws upon relevant research, case studies, and industry reports to highlight the potential benefits and challenges of integrating mHealth into diabetes care.

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E-Health Approaches Towards Diabetes Management In Saudi Arabia

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e-Health approaches towards diabetes management in Saudi Arabia
Introduction
Prevalence of Diabetes in Saudi Arabia is high with an estimate of one in every four
citizen suffering. In the previous years of 1970s, diabetes was un heard of as most of the people
lived nomadic life. Lifestyle changes have characterised by the Saudis engaging in less
exercises and consumption of high density sugars and fat rich foods. In Gulf Co-operation
council, the prevalence has been increasing, with expectation to rise by 96.3% by 2035. In
Saudi Arabia the prevalence is 17.6%, (IDF, 2015) higher than the global prevalence rate of
8.8%. The focus of this study is an innovative approach of using technology of e-health
utilization in managing diabetes disease.
e-Health innovative approach
In Saudi Arabia, application of e-health innovative approach has been initiated. In the
recent years, the research arena has shifted focus on the use of technology towards efficient
production process, with focus on the role of mobile based applications towards innovative
services in health care provision. In the health care sector, the importance of industrialization
play key role in ensuring that economic benefits are achieved, (OECD,2012). E-health care
services approach offer quality, safe and timely health care needs to the health challenges of
individual’s citizens, (Jung & Berthon, 2009).
This e health approach entails a web based mobile application with an education and
nursing approach on diabetes. Patients can do self assessments, monitor their blood sugar level
effectively, connect to support from the medical and engage them in a more convenient way. It
utilises the use of mobile phone and a smart phone as an application which guides the patients
on lifestyle tips and glycaemia control levels.
Ehealth is being implemented in Saudi Arabia. The adoption of e-health services as a cost
effective way of improving health care services has been implemented in public health sector
arena. E-health have cutting cost on cost reductions, improving on quality health care services
and offering safe medical care to the citizens, (Aanesen, Lothrington & Olsen, 2012).
Need and rationale of the innovation
Diabetes in Saudi Arabia is major challenge having far reaching impacts on the health
status of the people in general. The high incidences of diabetes have gone higher and this has
called for the necessity for the e-health innovative approaches towards health care provision.
This has further been compounded with the rise in digital technology especially among the
young people. The innovative introduction of e-health technology is essential in ensuring that
health is achieved. A study by Altuwaijir (2011) has highlighted the need the national e-health
for the wider Saudi Arabia citizens.

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e-Health approaches towards diabetes management in Saudi Arabia
Studies on innovative use of technology in Saudi Arabia referred to as Mobile Health
Effectiveness and Readiness Questionnaire (MHERQ) have shown that people’s health can be
effectively be improved through mobile based health innovation and showed that it can
significantly lower the rate incidence rate of type 2 diabetes through educative messages and
self assessment , (Alenazi et al., 2017).
Components of critical care model
The innovative approach is embedded in critical care model which seeks to improve care
at population and patient level. It incorporates patient needs and technology system issues on
addressing diabetes management using web based mobile e health approach.
It involves empowering communities through improved health systems which translate to
informed patients acting proactively towards improved outcomes on the diabetes state.
Critical analysis and performance
Neighbouring Gulf countries face high rates of diabetes and have been rated as among
top countries in the world with high prevalence rates. This has seen associations such as the
Saudi Arabia association for the health informatics being at the fore front in promoting co-
ordination among health professionals. . E-health initiatives in Saudi Arabia have focussed on
education approaches, (Househ, Saddik Al-Dosari, 2011). E health educations programs have
been entrenched in the education sector as currently observed with the development of master
of health informatics. Initiatives such as the Kuwait Scotland e Health Innovation Network has
been undertaking partnerships with key relevant institutions such as the government, industry
players and education sector in order to deliver a comprehensive package for the clinical
service development. This has seen shift in how informatics systems change in health care
especially among children and adults with diabetes. The innovative approach presents
partnerships among health education, industry and government players aimed at delivering
clinical service package under one comprehensive system. The results of this innovative
program provided an overview of clinical and operational data of diabetes patients in the
registry system. This showed how users at population level can assess diabetes indicators based
on national standards of diabetes, it also provided educational program on diabetes for patients,
(Conway et al., 2014).
KSeHIN- The Kuwait-Scotland e Health Innovation Network has represented a
successful collaboration with various stakeholder on cutting across the different players
towards targeting patient outcomes, systems, performance and professional development in
ensuring the management of quality diabetes care for the growing population of Kuwait. The
collaboration has achieved enrolment of approximately 4000 registered patients who are not

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e-Health approaches towards diabetes management in Saudi Arabia
able to meet the national clinical targets for diabetes. On education program, over 150 masters
students have been enrolled and over 400 projects related to diabetes management have been
accomplished, (Conway et al., 2014).
Feasibility studies are being undertaken in Saudi Arabia on development of diabetes
management system for social behaviour change for diabetes management tailored specifically
to Saudi Arabians is taking center stage. This e health approach seeks to promote monitoring
for diabetic patients and increasing the diabetic patients health awareness and obtaining
feedback for maintenance of regular blood glucose level, (Alanzi, 2014).
This e-Health system was designed on smart mobile platform for use among patients on
cognitive behavioural therapy. The assessment of this approach showed a general acceptance of
the patients using the system. The end results showed that the SANAD- Saudi Arabia
networking for aiding diabetes program, has positive implications on the promotion of
knowledge of diabetes and increasing self efficacy among the target groups of the program,
(Alanzi, 2014).
Challenges and factors associated with success and poor performance
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia currently faces numerous challenges in the e-health system.
The ministry of health has been under pressure to develop quality care and improve e-health
services to its residents especially in non communicable disease such as diabetes. There are
more many challenges with regard to implementation of telemedicine utilization. These
challenges include shortage of medical and engineering experts in the region, lack of good
infrastructure, poor mobile technology infrastructure and training models and lack of diabetic
specialist nurses and medical personnel on diabetes care (Alotaibi et al., 2016).
Challenges have been observed in implementation which entails lack of clear direction
and infrastructural framework to support the various initiatives, (Istepanian, et al., 2009).
Factors contributing to its success is the widely use of smart phones in Saudi Arabia,
making success of the health possible. The population are having smart phones which
supporting e-health applications.
Address towards health equity
One of the most recognizable efforts of technology based innovative approaches has been
the adherence of treatment and achieving healthy lifestyles. Adherence often is accompanied
with permanent behavior change which is a long term approach towards health care access,
(Reach, 2009).
Technology tools of e-health to support behavior change has been widely shared across
the board with specificity on diabetes management in offering e-Health solutions in terms of

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e-Health approaches towards diabetes management in Saudi Arabia
knowledge sharing healthy lifestyle and individual health assessments. The need towards
achieving this approach entails understanding the social behavior change of the people.
Currently majority of the Saudi Arabians own Smartphones and other mobile devices which
this potential can be tapped to ensure that behavior change and diabetes assessment is achieved
(Fogg, 2002).
In this emerging field of positive technology, the need of utilising innovations in
addressing the health equities is of concern. Reaching the larger population has been the
primary focus. This has seen in depth studying into aspects of technology which focuses on the
innovation associated with behaviour change for the people and the integration of how these
features can be integrated into instruments that can impact positively on the lives of the people
and to meet the specific needs of the various target groups, (Street et al, 2013).
Research focus has shifted attention into how context and situation merge in health care
access on diabetes management. The ability of how it would take into account the social and
cognitive process of individuals has been on the focus, (Kaptein et al, 2010). These studies
have led to focus on the technological devices which have an impact on the behaviour change
and how it would be integrated into the systems of health care, (Hallsworth et al., 2015). With
view of mobile health devices which include software intensive communication networks and
mobile health information, services have been observed as having better chance of achieving
support for patients by integrating the doctor patient relation on disease patterns, (Erikson et
al., 2014).
Implications on consumers and health care community
The e-Health model for diabetes management has had far reaching effects on
empowering the patients with increased knowledge about the disease which improves better
management of the disease, (Riley et al, 2011). It is essential in providing free short text
messages to the patients with the mobile applications, (Erikson et al., 2014). The educational
component has been seen to borrow a leaf from the Iraq and Bahrain through collaborations
built and following guidelines on diabetes management. This messages have been modified to
offer patients with treatment related messages, blood glucose monitoring steps, diabetes
complications awareness and encouraging the patients to improve clinic attendance and diet,
(Alotaibi, Istepanian & Philip, 2016).
e-Health application in the medical set up have important benefits on health care, which
entail positive efficiency of health care, utilization of effectiveness of health care, reduction of
error rates and reduction of health care costs. These innovative approaches have been observed
to offer sigh of relieve to the burdening impact of the health care system, (Stellefson, Dipnarine

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e-Health approaches towards diabetes management in Saudi Arabia
& Stopka, 2013).
The implementation of e-Health platform in Saudi Arabia, further has had far reaching
positive consequences. The web based applications have been found to provide educational
specialists with important medical information on every individual patient. They also provide
relevant information to the patients in the remote regions where health care on diabetic
management is limited. If these systems are adopted, they will tremendously improve self
monitoring aspects of the disease which eventually reduces the overall burden of mortality
rates across Saudi Arabia kingdom, (Silva et al., 2015).
Further on health care staff, there have been collaborations on managing diabetes. The
ministry of health in Saudi Arabia, has joined forces with other partners like Joslin Diabetes
centre associated with Harvard medical school in improving the standard of care in health care
centres to achieve international standards. Health workers will be trained latest methods of
diabetic management, (Arab News, Online 2016).
Limitation
E health programs on diabetes management in Saudi Arabia have not been published
making it challenge for successful analysis review. Many programs being undertaken have not
been published yet thus making it a challenge for long term studies to assess their
effectiveness. Thus the gap in literature needs to be reduced so as to indentify and utilise
effective programs on diabetes management.
Recommendations
Towards overcoming the exhibited challenges there is need to identify a clear e-health
framework which provides solutions to major medical challenges in the overall address
towards prevention of prevalence of diabetes. There is need to increase the awareness of
mobile based health technologies among the community members, inclusion of m-health as
part of medical educational programs in medical curriculum and improving on public
awareness on mobile health among diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia kingdom.
For effective management of diabetes there is need for implementations which have been
successful in other countries and are applicable in Saudi Arabia. Lifestyle interventions have
proofed to be a cost effective approach. They have the ability to delay the progression of
diabetes to more complex stages. With appropriate management of lifestyle type 2 diabetes
complications such as heart attack, blindness, kidney failure and limb amputations can be
reduces, (Gillies et al, 2007).
Opportunities
The ministry of health has implemented prevention, treatment and rehabilitation

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e-Health approaches towards diabetes management in Saudi Arabia
programs in its facilities in an aim for ensuring inclusive health for all. This further
supplements the efforts of national executive plan for diabetes for 10 years starting from 2010-
2020, aiming at helping the Saudi community from disease incidence, (MoH, 2013). This
opportunity can be utilized as leverage for other intervention programs.
Available opportunities to be utilized are the establishment of initiatives based in the
community through collaborative process and engagement of all stakeholders. The programs to
be facilitated include public health education, screening programs, lifestyle medication to
promote prevention and management support for chronic disease prevention. Utilizing these
opportunities will be beneficial in public health arena through reduction of disease burden in
the community and minimizing impact on the health care network.
Conclusion
The core strengths of health care technology in Saudi Arabia are actionable health
information, care management, consumer involvement, health care insurance and financial
facilitation. The availability of these assets is paramount in improving health care for the
citizens. There is need for partnership approach among the health care professionals and other
concerns stakeholders, which leads to reduction of diabetes prevalence. Implementing these,
Saudi Arabia will be a model for learning how innovative approaches such as e-health as an
innovative model able to treat and prevent diabetes towards achieving critical part of Saudi
vision 2030.

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e-Health approaches towards diabetes management in Saudi Arabia
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