The Role of Digital Health Technology Interventions in the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review

Objectives: Diabetes in the 21st century presents one of the greatest burdens of disease on the global population. Digitally mediated interventions have become imperative in alleviating this disease epidemic. We aimed to systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on different health technologies for preventing Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and their efficacy in decreasing diabetes risk-related outcomes in at-risk patients in comparison to standard care.Methods: Five electronic databases were searched between October 2021 and December 2022. Studies including digital health technology interventions used for preventing diabetes development by reducing diabetes risk-related outcomes in at-risk adults (>= 18 years) were identified. Data on glycemic levels, incidence of T2DM, weight, and intervention descriptions were extracted, and the risk of bias (ROB) was assessed.Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria and 5 studies (56%) achieved clinically significant outcomes in at least one of the following: decreased weight (22%), glycemic levels (22%), or incidence of T2DM (11%). Two of the 3 (67%) computer-based interventions effectively reduced the HbA1c levels and mean weight of their study population, and 3 of 6 (50%) mobile based interventions (text messages, mobile app, and telehealth) decreased the incidence of T2DM and HbA1c levels. Four studies each had an overall low ROB and one had a high ROB due to attrition.Conclusion: Preliminary evidence identified in our review demonstrated that health technologies for diabetes prevention are effective for improving diabetes risk-related outcomes. Future research into digital technology protocol and studies of longer duration and more diverse populations are needed for clinical feasibility. Role of Digital technology in Diabetes preventionIn the 21st century, diabetes has become a major health challenge globally. To address this, we conducted a systematic review, looking at studies that used digital interventions to prevent Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and how effective they are compared to standard care. In this study, we searched electronic databases from October 2021 to December 2022 and identified 9 studies that met our criteria. These studies focused on adults aged 18 and above who were at risk of developing diabetes. We looked at outcomes like glucose concentrations, T2DM incidence, and weight, and assessed the risk of bias in each study. The results showed that more than half of the studies showed significant outcomes. For instance, some interventions led to decreased weight, lower glucose concentrations, or reduced incidence of T2DM. Computer-based interventions and mobile-based interventions (including text messages, mobile apps, and telehealth) were particularly effective in improving these outcomes. In conclusion, our review suggests that digital health technologies can be effective in preventing diabetes and improving related outcomes. However, we note that more research is needed, especially looking at diverse populations and longer study durations, to confirm the clinical feasibility of these digital interventions for diabetes prevention. This is a promising step forward in using technology to tackle the growing diabetes epidemic, offering new ways to support individuals at risk and improve their health outcomes.