Smarter Ways to Manage Diabetes and Save Money

Diabetes is becoming more common. It's crucial to find innovative ways to help people manage it. This study explores a special program that utilizes mobile health tools and a dedicated team of health workers. The goal? To determine if this program can assist individuals with diabetes and potentially save money for the healthcare system.

The mDAS Program

The program, known as mDAS, is designed to support adults with type 2 diabetes, particularly focusing on African American and Latinx communities. These groups often face greater challenges in managing diabetes.

Key Components

Mobile Health Tools: Leveraging technology to monitor and manage health.
Community Health Workers: Providing personalized support and education.
Clinical Pharmacists: Offering expert medication management.

This team approach aims to:

Lower blood sugar levels
Reduce the need for expensive medical interventions

Study Findings

The study compared the mDAS program to traditional care, examining healthcare resource use and costs. The results are promising:

Effective Diabetes Management: Participants in the mDAS program showed improved diabetes management.
Cost Savings: The program demonstrated potential savings for both patients and the healthcare system.

Considerations

While the findings are encouraging, there are important factors to consider:

Short-Term Focus: The study only spans one year. Long-term benefits remain uncertain.
Variability in Effectiveness: The program may not be universally applicable. Further research is needed to assess its effectiveness across different populations and settings.

Conclusion

The mDAS program represents a promising new approach to diabetes management. By combining technology and a team-based approach, it offers a potential solution that could benefit both patients and the healthcare system. Further research is needed, but the initial results are a step in the right direction.