The BlueStar Diabetes Mobile Health Application

Patient Scenario

The approved patient scenario concerns a 55-year-old male patient diagnosed with diabetes three years ago. In addition to diabetes, the client suffers from alcohol addiction and regularly smokes, exacerbating his condition. The nursing assessment shows that the patient is at high risk of developing diabetes-related complications due to his lifestyle. Specifically, considering his alcohol and smoking habits and the diabetes diagnosis, the patient is susceptible to cardiovascular disease and kidney and nerve damage. It is imperative for the client to manage his condition adequately, reduce alcohol use, and quit smoking. Currently, the patient is residing with his family, including children and grandchildren, who can be recruited to help him cope with the condition and necessary lifestyle changes. The mHealth application BlueStar Diabetes is advised for the client to help improve his quality of life and prevent any complications.

Teaching Areas Related to the mHealth App

Information about the mHealth App

• BlueStar Diabetes app is an FDA and physician-approved application for diabetes management (My Health App, n.d.).
• BlueStar Diabetes is available only through prescription by a physician.
• The application is available for Android and iOS devices and can be downloaded on the Android Play Store and Apple Store via a link offered by a healthcare provider.
• There are two kinds of the application aimed at different users. Thus, BlueStar Diabetes offers versions for Type I and Type II diabetes sufferers (Intech, 2020).
• The Type I diabetes version can be connected to Dexcom’s continuous glucose monitor, while the Type II version is customized to the client’s health needs (Intech, 2020).
• BlueStar Diabetes app calculates insulin doses based on the patient’s regimen, diet, and lifestyle.
• The application is recommended primarily for Type II diabetes management.
• BlueStar also provides users with materials on the condition that can be used for self-education on the disease.
• The app offers behavioral management and sends reminders to the patient to avoid unhealthy habits (Shan et al., 2019).

Safety Features and Guidelines

• The app allows setting reminders to take insulin so that the client never misses a dose.
• The insulin dose is calculated using the relevant data on the user’s diet, insulin regimen, exercise routine, and prescribed medications.
• The data is protected from third-party access without the patient’s permission (Veazie et al., 2018).

Interpretation of the Information in the mHealth App

• BlueStar Diabetes provides clear instructions on how many units of insulin the patient should take with each dose.
• The app offers data on the current A1C levels of the patients and gives clear recommendations for insulin injections.
• The history of A1C and blood sugar levels allows the healthcare professional to track the progression of the disease and how well the patient manages it. BlueStar automatically interprets this information for the user to show their progress.

Determination and Evaluation of the Patient’s Success

• The client does not miss insulin intake and takes appropriate dosages due to the app’s notifications. The patient successfully manages his A1C and blood sugar, maintaining stable levels throughout at least one month period.
• The client reduces his intake of alcohol and decreases the number of cigarettes smoked a day. These lifestyle changes should be gradual and consistent to ensure that he does not relapse and regress to previous behavior.
• The patient adopts a healthy diet and starts a physician-approved exercise regime. The changes can be evaluated as successful if the client consistently exercises and opts for healthier meal options throughout at least three months.

References

Intech. (2020). APP review: BlueStar Diabetes. Intech.Media. Web.

My Health App. (n.d.). BlueStar Diabetes. 2021, Web.

Shan, R., Sarkar, S., & Martin, S. S. (2019). Digital health technology and mobile devices for the management of diabetes mellitus: state of the art. Diabetologia, 62(6), 877-887. Web.

Veazie, S., Winchell, K., Gilbert, J., Paynter, R., Ivlev, I., Eden, K. B., Nussbaum, K., Weiskopf, N., Guise, J., & Helfand, M. (2018). Rapid evidence review of mobile applications for self-management of diabetes. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 33(7), 1167–1176. Web.