When Smart Mobile Technology Meets Good Science

A recent New York Times article listed several mobile IT tools worth looking into, including a small blood glucose meter that plugs into an iPhone or iPod Touch, a blood pressure cuff that attaches to a smartphone, and a phone app that reminds patients to take their medication.

But when I was interviewed for this Times story, one point I thought worth mentioning was that the best mobile health tools are supported by strong clinical research.

One example: WellDoc's DiabetesManager. In a year-long study, Charlene Quinn, MD, and colleagues from the University of Maryland school of medicine found that patients who had access to the WellDoc mobile app for treatment and behavioral coaching lowered their glycated hemoglobin (A1c)--a measure of long-term blood glucose control--significantly more than those who received care only during occasional doctor visits and through self management.