Digital Diabetes Apps Improve Glycemic Control and Overall Health Outcomes: Study

A new study published in the journal of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics showed that improvements in glycemic outcomes (such as blood glucose control) and non-glycemic outcomes related to overall diabetes care were linked to the usage of a digital diabetes management app.

Significant improvements in important glycemic indicators, such as lower hemoglobin A1c levels and fewer hypoglycemia episodes, are strongly linked to increased use of a diabetes management app. Active users also report significant improvements in nonglycemic outcomes, such as enhanced mental health, lowered blood pressure, and better weight control. The objectives of this study were to measure the effects of a diabetic app (mySugr®) on both glycemic and non-glycemic outcomes and, by examining app usage patterns, investigate the connection between behavior and glycemic management.

MySugr users with type 1 (T1DM) or type 2 (T2DM) diabetes mellitus had their glycemic (blood glucose [BG]) and non-glycemic (body mass index [BMI] and tags indicating hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia feelings) outcomes collected in the app over a 90-day period. These outcomes were evaluated using population analysis, which included stratification by frequency of app usage. To find app user characteristics that could predict glycemic results, linear modeling was used.

A total of 80,044 mySugr users' data were examined. App usage was correlated with improved glycemic control (change in mean BG = −12.5 mg/dL; P < 0.001), which was highest among users who used the app more than 16 times a day. The mean BMI of T2DM users decreased by 2.4% from baseline (−0.76 kg/m2; P < 0.001; n = 6910). Users with T1DM and T2DM reported feeling less hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic, respectively, by 16% and 27% (143,600 tags).

For both T1DM (n = 17,465) and T2DM (n = 39,069) users, linear models demonstrated a substantial fit (P < 0.001) and accounted for a considerable portion of the variation in glycemic outcomes (R2 = 0.355 for T1DM and R2 = 0.444 for T2DM). The best indicator of glycemic outcomes was baseline glycemic control, which was followed by the quantity of BG. Overall, people with diabetes can get better glycemic and non-glycemic results by using a digital diabetes app.

Source:

Mitter, M., Ruch, B., Zivkovic, J., Theodorou, D., Cinar, E., Niklaus, C., Lawrance, M., Popovic, M., Scheibner, K., Mayor, R., & Silbermann, S. (2026). Increased usage of a diabetes management app was associated with significant improvement in both glycemic and non-glycemic outcomes for people with diabetes. Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, 15209156261457747. https://doi.org/10.1177/15209156261457747