Evaluation of mobile applications for patients with diabetes mellitus: A scoping review
Open accessAbstract
There has been increasing interest in mobile healthcare for diabetes management. However, there remains limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of these mobile applications (apps). This scoping review aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of mobile diabetes management apps. We used the following search terms: “mobile app”, “mobile application”, and “diabetes”. We included only articles written in English and published between January 2016 and August 2021. We identified two, six, and four articles focused on type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and both diabetes types, respectively. Five, four, and three of these studies reported on the apps’ functionality, usability, and both, respectively. Our findings indicated that diabetes mobile apps allowed for convenient user experience and improved blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Considering these findings, usability must be comprehensively evaluated by using definitions such as the ISO9241-11 usability definition or the mobile application rating scale (MARS) when developing diabetes-related apps. For the feasibility of diabetes mobile apps, we recommend that HbA1C and self-management be included as evaluation variables. Given the increasing importance of continuous management for patients with diabetes, interventions using mobile apps are bound to become effective tools for patient-led self-management.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Telemedicine supported by mHealth seemed to be more frequently associated with improved glycaemic control, whilst past evidence did not consistently demonstrate a clear benefit of telemedicine on metabolic control.
“In these cases, telemedicine supported by mHealth seemed to be more frequently associated with improved glycaemic control, whilst past evidence did not consistently demonstrate a clear benefit of telemedicine on metabolic control (7–9).”
From Impact of digital health on Type 2 diabetes management: a randomised controlled trial of the ‘TreC Diabete’ platform (TELEMECHRON Study) (2025) · cites this paper as [8]
The Results (§3.2; page unavailable) report significant A1C decreases in several studies of diabetes mobile apps, while the Discussion (§4; page unavailable) notes inconsistent findings across app studies. The review does not compare mHealth-supported telemedicine with telemedicine alone or establish that earlier telemedicine evidence lacked a consistent metabolic-control benefit. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe clinical effectiveness of mHealth tools, including those delivered via telemedicine platforms, remains inconsistent, with some studies showing limited or variable impact on metabolic outcomes.
“However, the clinical effectiveness of mHealth tools, including those delivered via telemedicine platforms, remains inconsistent, with some studies showing limited or variable impact on metabolic, and in the large majority of cases studies were assessing a single-function application.”
From Impact of digital health on Type 2 diabetes management: a randomised controlled trial of the ‘TreC Diabete’ platform (TELEMECHRON Study) (2025) · cites this paper as [8]
The Results (§3.2) report significant A1C reductions in some app studies but a nonsignificant blood-sugar reduction in S12; the Discussion (§4) explicitly describes inconsistent HbA1C findings. The review concerns diabetes mobile apps, not the effectiveness of tools delivered via telemedicine platforms. It also does not support the citing sentence’s claim that a large majority of studies assessed single-function applications. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMobile diabetes apps improved blood sugar levels and most showed significant HbA1c reduction (0.3%-1.3% decrease).
“Mobile diabetes apps improved blood sugar levels and provided convenient user experience; most apps showed significant HbA1c reduction (0.3%-1.3% decrease in most studies)”
From Digital diabetes management technologies for type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of home-based care interventions (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework
Arksey, H., & O'Malley, L. (2005) · International Journal of Social Research Methodology · doi:10.1080/1364557032000119616 · Cited by 36,742 · see citing works
Gregory, G. A., Robinson, T. I. G., Linklater, S. E., Wang, F., Colagiuri, S., de Beaufort, C., Donaghue, K. C., Harding, J. L., Wander, P. L., Zhang, X., et al. (2022) · The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology · doi:10.1016/s2213-8587(22)00218-2 · Cited by 1,149 · see citing works
Arnhold, M., Quade, M., & Kirch, W. (2014) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/jmir.2968 · Cited by 417 · see citing works
Effectiveness of mHealth interventions for patients with diabetes: An overview of systematic reviews
Kitsiou, S., Paré, G., Jaana, M., & Gerber, B. S. (2017) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173160 · Cited by 390 · see citing works
Diabetes Fact Sheet in Korea 2021
Bae, J. H., Han, K., Ko, S., Yang, Y., Choi, J. H., Choi, K. M., Kwon, H., & Won, K. C. (2022) · Diabetes & Metabolism Journal · doi:10.4093/dmj.2022.0106 · Cited by 361 · see citing works
Shan, R., Sarkar, S., & Martin, S. S. (2019) · Diabetologia · doi:10.1007/s00125-019-4864-7 · Cited by 339 · see citing works
Wu, Y., Yao, X., Vespasiani, G., Nicolucci, A., Dong, Y., Kwong, J., Li, L., Sun, X., Tian, H., & Li, S. (2017) · JMIR mHealth and uHealth · doi:10.2196/mhealth.6522 · Cited by 283 · see citing works
Usability of Mobile Applications: A Systematic Literature Study
Weichbroth, P. (2020) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2020.2981892 · Cited by 278 · see citing works
Agarwal, P., Mukerji, G., Desveaux, L., Ivers, N. M., Bhattacharyya, O., Hensel, J. M., Shaw, J., Bouck, Z., Jamieson, T., Onabajo, N., et al. (2019) · JMIR mHealth and uHealth · doi:10.2196/10321 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
Davalbhakta, S., Advani, S., Kumar, S., Agarwal, V., Bhoyar, S., Fedirko, E., Misra, D. P., Goel, A., Gupta, L., & Agarwal, V. (2020) · Journal of Medical Systems · doi:10.1007/s10916-020-01633-3 · Cited by 199 · see citing works
Wu, Y., Yao, X., Vespasiani, G., Nicolucci, A., Dong, Y., Kwong, J. S. W., Li, L., Sun, X., Tian, H., & Li, S. (2018) · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · doi:10.2196/mhealth.8789 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Technology and diabetes self-management: an integrative review
Hunt, C. W. (2015) · World Journal of Diabetes · doi:10.4239/wjd.v6.i2.225 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
Tran, J. T., Tran, R., & White, J. R. (2012) · Clinical Diabetes · doi:10.2337/diaclin.30.4.173 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Pfeifer, A.-C., Uddin, R., Schröder‐Pfeifer, P., Holl, F., Swoboda, W. J., & Schiltenwolf, M. (2020) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm9113557 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Huang, Z., Tan, E. J. H., Lum, E., Sloot, P. M. A., Boehm, B. O., & Car, J. (2019) · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · doi:10.2196/14914 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Mobile health in the management of type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Wang, X., Shu, W., Du, J., Du, M., Wang, P., Xue, M., Zheng, H., Jiang, Y., Yin, S., Liang, D., et al. (2019) · BMC Endocrine Disorders · doi:10.1186/s12902-019-0347-6 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Real-world assessments of mySugr mobile health app
Debong, F., Mayer, H., & Kober, J. (2019) · Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics · doi:10.1089/dia.2019.0019 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Petersen, M., & Hempler, N. F. (2017) · BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making · doi:10.1186/s12911-017-0493-6 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Use of mobile apps and technologies in child and adolescent mental health: a systematic review
Punukollu, M., & Marques, M. (2019) · Evidence-Based Mental Health · doi:10.1136/ebmental-2019-300093 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Assessing the quality of mobile applications in chronic disease management: a scoping review
Agarwal, P., Gordon, D., Griffith, J., Kithulegoda, N., Witteman, H. O., Bhatia, R. S., Kushniruk, A. W., Borycki, E. M., Lamothe, L., Springall, E., et al. (2021) · npj Digital Medicine · doi:10.1038/s41746-021-00410-x · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Smartphone apps to help children and adolescents with cancer and their families: a scoping review
Mehdizadeh, H., Asadi, F., Mehrvar, A., Nazemi, E., & Emami, H. (2019) · Acta Oncologica · doi:10.1080/0284186x.2019.1588474 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Klee, P., Bussien, C., Castellsague, M., Combescure, C., Dirlewanger, M., Girardin, C. M., Mando, J.-L., Perrenoud, L., Salomon, C. G., Schneider, F., et al. (2018) · Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics · doi:10.1089/dia.2018.0255 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Improved A1C Levels in Type 1 Diabetes with Smartphone App Use
Ryan, E. A., Holland, J., Stroulia, E., Bazelli, B., Babwik, S. A., Li, H., Senior, P., & Greiner, R. (2017) · Canadian Journal of Diabetes · doi:10.1016/j.jcjd.2016.06.001 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Adu, M. D., Malabu, U. H., Callander, E. J., Malau‐Aduli, A. E. O., & Malau‐Aduli, B. S. (2018) · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · doi:10.2196/10115 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Kusnanto, Widyanata, K. A. J., Suprajitno, & Arifin, H. (2019) · Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders · doi:10.1007/s40200-019-00468-1 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
The Influence of the Smart Glucose Manager Mobile Application on Diabetes Management
Gunawardena, K. C., Jackson, R., Robinett, I., Dhaniska, L., Jayamanne, S., Kalpani, S., & Muthukuda, D. (2019) · Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology · doi:10.1177/1932296818804522 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
One Drop | Mobile: An Evaluation of Hemoglobin A1c Improvement Linked to App Engagement
Osborn, C. Y., van Ginkel, J. R., Rodbard, D., Heyman, M., Marrero, D. G., Huddleston, B., & Dachis, J. (2017) · JMIR Diabetes · doi:10.2196/diabetes.8039 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Abasi, S., Yazdani, A., Kiani, S., & Mahmoudzadeh‐Sagheb, Z. (2021) · Health Science Reports · doi:10.1002/hsr2.434 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Integrated self‐management program effects on hemodialysis patients: A quasi‐experimental study
Park, O. L., & Kim, S. R. (2019) · Japan Journal of Nursing Science · doi:10.1111/jjns.12249 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Lee, D. Y., Park, J., Choi, D., Ahn, H.-Y., Park, S.-W., & Park, C.-Y. (2018) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-018-22034-0 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Holtz, B., Murray, K. M. E., Hershey, D. S., Richman, J., Dunneback, J. K., Vyas, A. K., & Wood, M. A. (2017) · Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare · doi:10.1177/1357633x17745470 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Signal, V., McLeod, M., Stanley, J., Stairmand, J., Sukumaran, N., Thompson, D.-M., Henderson, K., Davies, C., Krebs, J. D., Dowell, A. C., et al. (2020) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/19150 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Vehı́, J., Isern, J. R., Parcerisas, A., Calm, R., & Contreras, I. (2019) · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · doi:10.2196/11933 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Corrao, S., Colomba, D., Arnone, S., Argano, C., Chiara, T. D., Scaglione, R., & Licata, G. (2006) · Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association · doi:10.1197/jamia.m2084 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Riangkam, C., Sriyuktasuth, A., Pongthavornkamol, K., Kusakunniran, W., & Sriwijitkamol, A. (2021) · Journal of Health Research · doi:10.1108/jhr-02-2021-0126 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Adu, M. D., Malabu, U. H., Malau‐Aduli, A. E. O., Drovandi, A. D., & Malau‐Aduli, B. S. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17072573 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Tack, C. J., Lancee, G. J., Heeren, B., Engelen, L. J., Hendriks, S., Zimmerman, L., De Massari, D., van Gelder, M. M., & van de Belt, T. H. (2018) · JMIR Diabetes · doi:10.2196/diabetes.9531 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Cai, X., Zhang, F., Lin, C., Zhang, X., Wang, Z., Xing, H., Nie, L., Han, X., & Ji, L. (2020) · Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity · doi:10.2147/dmso.s244826 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Usability of a Disease Management Mobile Application as Perceived by Patients With Diabetes
Janatkhah, R., Tabari-Khomeiran, R., Louyeh, A. A., & Kazemnejad, E. (2019) · CIN Computers Informatics Nursing · doi:10.1097/cin.0000000000000532 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Kho, S. E. S., Lim, S. G., Hoi, W. H., Ng, P. L., Tan, L., & Kowitlawakul, Y. (2018) · CIN Computers Informatics Nursing · doi:10.1097/cin.0000000000000485 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Tomažič, T., & Stanojević-Jerković, O. (2020) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/17688 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Ye, Q., Boren, S. A., Khan, U., & Kim, M. S. (2017) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-58466-9_11 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Petersen, M., & Hempler, N. F. (2017) · BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making · doi:10.1186/s12911-017-0525-2 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Duffy, V. G. (2017) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-58466-9 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Mobile apps for diabetes self-management: An updated review of app features and effectiveness
Corsica, J. A., Kelly, M. C., Bradley, L. E., Konsor, M., Wilson, E. J., Quinones, I. C., Jeddi, R. W., & Markey, M. A. (2024) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-024-00525-y · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Alosaimi, H., Alshammari, M. K., Al-Otaibi, M., Alhejaili, S., Alshammari, B., Khalaf, A., Hajea, A., Saleh, R., Aldhafiri, F. J., AbuShahin, A., et al. (2025) · Digital Health · doi:10.1177/20552076241308993 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Begum, T. U. S., Devi, R., Haridas, D., Bačanin, N., Djuric-Jovicic, M. D., & Nikolić, B. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-24172-8 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Digital therapeutics as an emerging new therapy for diabetes mellitus: potentials and concerns
Li, S., Tao, J., Tang, J., Chu, Y., & Wu, H. (2024) · Endocrine Connections · doi:10.1530/ec-24-0219 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Kelly, F. A., de Moraes, F. C. A., Lôbo, A. D. O. M., Sano, V. K. T., Souza, M. E. C., de Almeida, A. M., Kreuz, M., Laurinavicius, A. G., & Consolim‐Colombo, F. M. (2024) · Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare · doi:10.1177/1357633x241298169 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Abdul Latif el Ejel, B., Sattar, S., Fatima, S. B., Khan, H. N., Ali, H., Iftikhar, A., Sarwer, M. A., & Mushtaq, M. (2025) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.84177 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Trust in Medical AI: The Case of mHealth Diabetes Apps
Materne, S., Canali, S., & Chiffi, D. (2025) · Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1111/jep.70216 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Reviewing Mobile Apps for Teaching Human Anatomy: Search and Quality Evaluation Study
García, G. E. R., López, M. J. C., Vázquez, J. C. R., Castillo, A. L., & Casados, J. C. (2025) · JMIR Medical Education · doi:10.2196/64550 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Alizadeh-Dizaj, G., Mehrabi, N., Ardalan, M. A., & Gholamhosseini, L. (2024) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-4932853/v1 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Giovanazzi, A., Gios, L., Gentilini, M. A., Mastellaro, M., Bartolotta, P., Nicolussi Giacomaz, L., Eccher, C., & Inchiostro, S. (2025) · Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare · doi:10.3389/fcdhc.2025.1589548 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Wong, A. K. C., Nan, Y., Yang, B. X., & Liu, Y. (2025) · JMIR Diabetes · doi:10.2196/69176 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Wongdama, S., Paemueang, W., & Sriphrapradang, C. (2025) · JMIR Diabetes · doi:10.2196/83685 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Orbayinah, S., Hikmah, N., Arviani, S. D., Hidayah, F. N., Soularto, D. S., Cahyaningsih, I., Romdzati, Hadning, I., Ghozali, M. T., Pamungkas, K. A., et al. (2024) · BIO Web of Conferences · doi:10.1051/bioconf/202413502002 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Shrivastava, T. P., Wagdhare, S., Saboo, B., & Goyal, R. K. (2025) · Digital Health · doi:10.1177/20552076251343700 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Use of digital self-care solutions for diabetes long-term management: a scoping review protocol
Correia, J. C., Khoury, C. F. E., Chaar, D. E., Arakelyan, S., Rasooly, A., Loffreda, G., Joshi, S., Cohen, J.-D., Andrade, V. D., Pétré, B., et al. (2025) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-100506 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Utility of mobile applications in the management of hepatitis B: A systematic review.
Romero-Vico, J., Vargas-Accarino, E., Palom, A., Fabrellas, N., & Buti, M. (2025) · Gastroenterology & hepatology · doi:10.1016/j.gastrohep.2025.502395 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Chong, C. J., Makmor‐Bakry, M., Hatah, E., Tahir, N. A. M., Mustafa, N., Capule, F. R., & Hermansyah, A. (2025) · Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology · doi:10.1177/19322968251349851 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Abubakar, I. N., Abdulganiyu, O. H., Essabbar, M., Saikouk, H., & Ahmed, E. H. A. (2026) · Medicine in Novel Technology and Devices · doi:10.1016/j.medntd.2026.100438 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Das, R., Singh, M., Acharya, B., Kundu, A., Swain, R. P., & Choppala, A. D. (2026) · Discover Sensors · doi:10.1007/s44397-026-00080-y · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Lu, X.-Q., Vesco, A. T., & Tang, T. S. (2025) · Diabetology · doi:10.3390/diabetology6040028
Asamoah, E. (2024) · Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices · doi:10.33790/jphip1100228
Utility of mobile applications in the management of hepatitis B: A systematic review
Romero‐Vico, J., Vargas‐Accarino, E., Palom, A., Fabrellas, N., & Buti, M. (2025) · Gastroenterología y Hepatología (English Edition) · doi:10.1016/j.gastre.2025.502395
Jahanzeb, S., & Davoody, N. (2025) · doi:10.2196/preprints.80890
Apps in the Clinic: Lessons Learned From the Real People With Diabetes Study
Karduck, J., & Chapman-Novakofski, K. (2025) · ADCES in Practice · doi:10.1177/2633559x251385651
THE IMPACT OF MOBILE APPLICATIONS ON HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Barwacz, J., Gładysz, D., Adamik, M., Settaf-Cherif, L., Malinowska, K., & Settaf-Cherif, E. (2025) · International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science · doi:10.31435/ijitss.4(48).2025.4102
Li, X., Wei, H., Xiao, W., Fan, Y., Huang, H., Zou, D., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Cheng, L., Zou, T., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Endocrinology · doi:10.3389/fendo.2026.1799398
Quality and Guideline Adherence of Mobile Nutrition Management Apps for Diabetes: Evaluation Study
Jahanzeb, S., & Davoody, N. (2026) · JMIR Diabetes · doi:10.2196/80890
Chiangkhong, A., Thongsri, P., Cherdsuntia, V., Yossatorn, Y., & Lokavee, S. (2026) · International Journal of Nursing Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.ijnss.2026.08.013
Aspilcueta, H. T., Gómez-Guizado, G., & Egoavil, L. D. L. C. (2026) · Cátedra Villarreal · doi:10.24039/rcv20261412022
- Authors
- Lee, J. L., & Kim, Y.
- Affiliations
- Daejeon University (KR)
- Kongju National University (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Kim, Youngji
- Venue
- Healthcare
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2024-01-31
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 368
- ISSN
- 2227-9032 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC10855494
- OpenAlex
- W4391404685
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 6
- FWCI
- 2.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Healthcare (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (NRF-2020R1G1A1102912)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
- Keywords
- diabetes mellitus, mobile health apps, diabetes management, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, usability evaluation, glycemic control, HbA1c, patient self-management, Mobile App Rating Scale, ISO 9241-11
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
