Open-label or unblinded (moderate): Open-label design

HbA1c fell in both groups over 6 months, and the app group had a slightly larger reduction, but the between-group difference was not clear. This means the app did not show convincing added benefit for the primary outcome beyond standard education and usual care.

Fasting plasma glucose was lower in the intervention group at 6 months, but the overall between-group difference was not clear. A significant benefit appeared in the subgroup younger than 65 years, so the overall finding is best treated as mixed rather than clearly positive.

Participants using the app had higher DSMES scores during follow-up, suggesting better self-management support. The finding should be interpreted cautiously because DSMES scores were already higher at baseline in the intervention group, which may have influenced the observed difference.

A Thai-language mobile diabetes self-management app with nutrition logging using a verified local cuisine database, blood glucose monitoring, medication logging, exercise tracking, symptom screening, and weight logging.

Positive: 1; Negative: 0; No effect: 1; Mixed: 1

Extracted 3 outcome signals across the study

The primary HbA1c outcome did not show a clear added benefit, fasting plasma glucose improved mainly in a younger subgroup, and self-management scores improved but were affected by baseline imbalance. Overall, the trial suggests mixed benefits rather than a clear positive effect.

HbA1c ↓ in both groups, with no clear added benefit from the app

Fasting plasma glucose ↓ in participants younger than 65 years using the app

Mostly intermediate or surrogate outcomes

At 6 months, mean HbA1c was 7.8% in the app group and 8.1% in the control group, but the between-group difference was not statistically significant.

Fasting plasma glucose was significantly lower at 6 months in the subgroup younger than 65 years assigned to the app.

The intervention group showed significantly higher DSMES scores from baseline to 6 months, suggesting support for self-management behaviors.

Wongdama S, Paemueang W, Sriphrapradang C. A tailor-made mobile app with a local cuisine database for self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: randomized controlled trial. JMIR Diabetes. 2025;10:e83685. doi:10.2196/83685

This was a single-center study with 129 participants.

The trial was open label, so participant behavior may have been influenced by knowing group assignment.

Six-month analyses excluded participants with missing outcome data rather than using full intention-to-treat methods.

Average app adherence was moderate, which may have limited the size of any benefit.

In a 6-month randomized trial of 129 adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, a Thai-language self-management app did not lower HbA1c more than standard education alone, although fasting plasma glucose improved in participants younger than 65 years.

DSMES score ↑ during follow-up in the app group

This ADA guideline supports culturally tailored diabetes self-management education and behavior support, which matches the app’s goal of helping people manage daily routines, diet, monitoring, and other self-care tasks.

Facilitating positive health behaviors and well-being to improve health outcomes: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2025

This World Health Organization report explains how mobile technologies can extend health support beyond clinics, giving broader public health context for diabetes self-management apps used in routine daily life.

mHealth: new horizons for health through mobile technologies

This CDC resource explains practical ways to manage blood sugar through monitoring, food choices, activity, and medication routines, which are the same daily behaviors this mobile app was designed to support.

Abaloparatide followed by alendronate treatment may improve bone mineral density (BMD) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to study results presented at the AACE 28th Annual Scientific & Clinical Congress.

Abaloparatide Followed by Alendronate Shows Promising Results for Women With Osteoporosis, T2D | American Association of Clinical Endocrinology

Connecting the Dots: Diabetes, CKD, and CVD Pathways enhances clinical understanding of the interconnected conditions of type 2 diabetes (T2D), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Strengthen recognition of shared pathophysiology, apply evidence-based risk assessment and treatment strategies, and improve care coordination through timely and appropriate referrals to drive better outcomes for patients with complex cardiometabolic conditions with this FREE course.

Connecting the Dots: Diabetes, CKD, and CVD Pathways | American Association of Clinical Endocrinology

Listen to AACE podcast episode 39 to learn about the latest updates to AACE’s 2023 diabetes algorithm, which provides concise guidance to assist health care professionals in clinical decision-making for the management of Type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Episode 39: AACE 2023 Updated Comprehensive Type 2 Diabetes Management Algorithm | American Association of Clinical Endocrinology

Treatment with linagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular and/or kidney disease had no impact on risk for cardiovascular or kidney events or hospitalization for heart failure, according to results of the CARMELINA study (Cardiovascular and Renal Microvascular Outcome Study With Linagliptin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus) presented at the AACE 28th Annual Scientific & Clinic

Linagliptin Does Not Increase Adverse Renal Events in Patients With T2D, Kidney Disease | American Association of Clinical Endocrinology

An estimated 30.3 million Americans have type 2 diabetes (T2D), a complex, progressive disease that requires intensified treatment over time.1-3 The complexity of T2D management, coupled with the need to tailor treatment recommendations to individual patients, presents an ongoing clinical challenge. The number and variety of treatment options available for T2D has increased dramatically in the last 15 years, with several new drug classes emerging as safe and effective.2,4,5

Non-Insulin Injectable Therapies for Diabetes Management | American Association of Clinical Endocrinology

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Ecnoglutide in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Beyond insulin therapy: Comparing relative benefits of adding SGLT2 versus DPP4 inhibitors in poorly controlled type 2 diabetic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Comparative efficacy and safety of three fixed-ratio combination products in type 2 diabetes: A network meta-analysis.

The role of peripheral blood HIF-1α in pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance among patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Central obesity and glycaemic control in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: evidence from Uzbekistan.

Includes self-reported outcomes (moderate): Self-reported outcomes used

Limited population scope (moderate): Narrow population scope

Limited safety reporting (moderate): Safety reporting depth: limited

No post-intervention follow-up (moderate): 0 weeks of follow-up after treatment ended

Thai diabetes app shows little extra HbA1c benefit over standard education

This study tested a Thai-language diabetes app with food logging, glucose tracking, medication reminders, exercise tracking, symptom checks, and weight monitoring. Over 6 months, the app did not improve HbA1c more than usual diabetes education, but younger users had lower fasting glucose and app users showed better self-management education scores.

The app was tested on top of diabetes self-management education and support, not instead of it. Because both groups received education, the study mainly shows whether the app adds extra benefit beyond usual structured care. The main HbA1c result was not clearly different, and the strongest glucose signal appeared in a younger subgroup.

A Thai-language diabetes self-management app added to standard outpatient education.

These findings apply most directly to adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes in outpatient care who can use a smartphone. The results are especially relevant to Thai or similar Asian settings where local food databases may improve the usefulness of nutrition tracking.

Thai diabetes app shows little extra HbA1c benefit over standard education

JMIR Publications Inc.

Summary

Study Design

Interventions

Study Type

Outcomes

Duration and Size

Study Population

Age Range

Sex

Geography

Other Criteria

Comparison with other Studies

Journal Reference

Stay informed. Stay ahead.