Digital Engagement, Self-Management, and Shifting the Locus of Control: A mHealth Program for People with Type 2 Diabetes

This paper reports from the halfway point in a longitudinal research project and reveals that digital engagement with a mobile tablet device empowers a person with diabetes in the self-management of their disease. Mobile tablet devices were issued to 28 people with type 2 diabetes at a large, integrated, primary, health care centre in Australia. Participants were invited to engage in various digital activities for the management of their health condition. During this time, plentiful and personalized digital support was provided. Diabetes self-management requires sustainable behavioral changes. Therefore, a longer-term program where patients could develop their self-regulatory skills as well as gain confidence in using the mobile devices, was deemed essential to the success of this pilot mHealth program. Participants report significant benefit and satisfaction with the device and an increased sense of control over their health management.