Dr. Google, The Specialist in Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases

• Main Author: Dumitrescu Ştefania
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 2014-09-01
• Series: Romanian Journal of Diabetes Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases
• Subjects: diabetes; obesity; smartphones; mobile applications; mobile health; systematic review; apps, telemedicine; glucose control; self-monitoring; diet; exercise
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjdnmd-2014-0027

Smartphones and other mobile devices have become an integral component of daily life for many people worldwide, offering a broad and up-growing range of functions and utilities. Social media, the information and communication technology, and the enhanced usability and pervasiveness of mobile devices have resulted in an enormous interest in the development of a large diversity of health care applications. This dynamic time for new technologies that overlaps the current epidemic of diabetes and obesity gives smartphones the potential to play a role in increasing healthcare delivery and efficiency. Research has consistently shown that diabetes and obesity management represents the medical area where mobile devices could help in achieving therapeutic goals and enhance patients’ quality of life. This paper comprises a brief overview of the current state of development, requirements and regulations in the health mobile applications industry, and a short overlook on mobile applications diversity, safety and efficacy towards the self-management of individuals with diabetes mellitus and/ or obesity and the enhancement of their quality of life.