Narrative Review of Mobile Applications for Diabetes Self-Care

Irakoze Mukamana S.

School of Applied Health Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Mobile applications for diabetes self-management have emerged as a promising tool to support patients in monitoring glucose, adhering to medication, modifying lifestyle behaviors, and accessing education and decision support. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on mobile health (mHealth) apps developed over the past decade, focusing on their features, usability, clinical effectiveness, and patient engagement. Findings indicate that apps commonly provide monitoring and data tracking, treatment reminders, lifestyle guidance, educational content, and communication with healthcare providers. While several studies report improvements in HbA1c and fasting glucose levels, most evidence derives from short-term trials, limiting conclusions on sustained outcomes. Challenges include limited user engagement, variability in app quality, privacy and ethical concerns, and inequitable access due to digital literacy, cost, or technology availability. Moreover, gaps exist in standardized evaluation frameworks, long-term clinical studies, and integration with care pathways. Despite these limitations, mobile applications offer a scalable, low-cost, and accessible strategy to enhance diabetes self-care and patient-centered management. Future research should prioritize robust longitudinal trials, equitable design, integration with healthcare systems, and the development of standardized quality metrics to maximize clinical and behavioral impact.

Keywords: Diabetes self-management, Mobile health (mHealth) applications, Patient engagement, Glycemic control, and Digital health interventions.

CITE AS: Irakoze Mukamana S. (2026). Narrative Review of Mobile Applications for Diabetes Self-Care. IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 11(1):39-45. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJSR/2026/11.1.3945