BLOOD GLUCOSE BY SMS Do parents find it reassuring to receive automatic updates about their child’s blood-glucose level - and is the child safer?

Background The interaction between children with diabetes and their parents is especially challenging. Treatment of children with Type 1 diabetes is based largely on the child’s blood-glucose values. Active use of blood-glucose data could provide the key to controlling blood glucose at the desired level. Objective A prototype was designed to automatically transfer readings from a child’s blood glucose monitor to their parent’s mobile phone. We investigated whether or not this system could provide families greater freedom and peace of mind, and – over time – a better basis for health staff to give advice and medicate the user group to achieve improved health. Method During four months, 15 children (ages 9-15 yrs) with Type 1 diabetes and their parents tested the prototype. Parent and child experiences were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Results Users valued the reassurance provided by the system which clearly shows potential as an aid in disease self-management. Suggestions for further developments include automatically generated dietary and dosage advice.