Sarah MacLeish, DO, a pediatric endocrinologist at UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, is bringing the latest in diabetes technology and state-of-the-art diabetes therapy to disadvantaged children with type 1 diabetes. questions. One group of patients received a standard mobile phone, while the other received an iPhone and a blood glucose meter that could be downloaded directly to the phone for easier reporting and
communication. in intensive insulin therapy and used text messaging almost exclusively when given the option for communication of blood sugar levels. Preliminary results of the study showed improvement in HbA1c blood sugar levels with the combination of text messaging and insulin pump therapy. This initial study was supported in part by the Ohio Department of Medicaid, Medicaid Technical Assistance and Policy Program (MedTAPP) Healthcare Access Initiative (HCA). Dr. MacLeish hopes to continue the program at UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital with a larger group of patients. Intensive insulin therapy improves blood sugar control in children with type 1 diabetes, but disadvantaged children are less likely to receive this therapy for several reasons, including the high level of training and parent support required, and the need for proficiency with basic diabetes care, such as testing blood glucose four times daily. Dr. MacLeish conducted a st
udy to determine whether high-tech devices could improve blood sugar control among disadvantaged children. The study enrolled 22 patients between the ages of 8 and 17. Participants attended a diabetes clinic every month for five to seven months to learn skills from a diabetes educator, pediatric endocrinologist and dietitian. All patients were provided with mobile phones that could be used to text-message the diabetes care team with Dr. MacLeish found that the patients Contact Dr. MacLeish at and their families were very interested Peds.Innovations@UHhospitals.org.