Efficiency of Using Nutritional and Exercise Applications in the Treatment of Diabetes Patients

Abstract Objective and Aim Diabetes mellitus is an important public health problem whose prevalence has increased in recent years. The use of smartphone applications in the self-management of patients is becoming widespread. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of these applications in weight loss and HbA1c level by using one of the smartphone applications in addition to the existing treatments in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Material and Methods This is a prospective, randomized controlled study in patients over the age of 18, with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with an HbA1c level of 7-10% and a body mass index of 30-40, who applied to the Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine (EUTF) Family Medicine Department (AD) outpatient clinic and Endocrinology and Metabolism outpatient clinic between September 2019 and December 2020.The patients were followed for 6 months.42 patients, 21 in the control group and 21 in the intervention group, completed the study. A nutrition-exercise behavior scale was applied to both groups, and a phone application was installed on the intervention group where they could record their diet and physical activities. Interviews were held with the patients every two weeks for the first two months and then every month. Results The BMI and weight of the patients were evaluated every 2 weeks until the eighth week, and every four weeks thereafter. BMI and weight changes evaluated within 24 weeks in the intervention and control groups were analyzed. In the intervention group, BMI and weight decreased in 95.2% (n=20) and increased in 4.8% (n=1) compared to baseline at week 24. In the control group, it decreased in 57.1% (n=12), increased in 33.3% (n=7) and remained the same in 9.5% (n=2). The proportion of those whose BMI and weight decreased in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group. When the change in HbA1c percentages was compared, the change in HbA1c in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion In our study, it has been shown that supporting self-management with mobile health applications can provide significant changes and better glycemic control in reducing body weight, body mass index and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. More positive results can be obtained by adding mobile applications to the standard follow-ups of diabetes patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted between 15 April and 15 June 2025 at Akkapi No. 2 Family Health Center, Seyhan, Adana, Türkiye. A total of 120 registered patients with T2DM (out of 254 registered diabetic patients) were included after sample size calculation. Data were collected via a comprehensive questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, lifestyle and dietary habits, treatment adherence, healthcare utilization, and perceived glycemic control. Laboratory results, including HbA1c, were obtained from patient records. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 23; p<0.05 was considered significant. Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Mobile Application, Lifestyle Changes