MobiDiabet: Mobile Telemonitoring System for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)

Abstract

According to the International Diabetes Federation, in 2019, approximately 416.7 million people worldwide suffered from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T2DM is a chronic degenerative disease of long term and slow progression. This condition requires a strict follow-up by physicians and nutritionists, combined with rigorous adherence to treatment by the patient to avoid possible complications. In this context, this paper describes the analysis, design, development, and preliminary usability assessment of a telemonitoring system focused on the monitoring, control, and remote nutritional therapy of people with T2DM. The proposed system comprises two mobile web applications, one focused on the patient and another oriented to physicians and nutritionists. The central services that our system provides to the patient and health personnel are: generate risk alerts; consult food menu options; receive recommendations; consult results of the food intake frequency questionnaire; patient history management; record anthropometry of patients, and review health education material. We carry out a preliminary usability assessment of our system based on a field study with four physicians, two nutritionists, and seven patients with T2DM. Based on the obtained results, our telemonitoring system shows a satisfactory/favorable opinion in terms of usability from the users’ perspective.

Keywords

• m-health
• type 2 diabetes mellitus
• telemonitoring system
• mobile web applications