SMS reminders- future in self-care management of diabetes mellitus?

Respected Sir,Short Message Service (SMS) or Text messaging, is a communication feature among mobile, web or phone communication systems, allowing an exchange of short messages between mobile phones or fixed line devices. Its cost effectiveness and easy accessibility has made it one of the most widely used communication pathways in the world [1]. The integration of SMS in all forms of society, especially lower income populations, has the potential to sideline internet and telephone as the new tool for behavioral intervention in the field of medicine [1].Application of SMS in reminders of medical appointments and delivering medical tests is not new, however its focus on clinical interventions has only recently begun [2]. Usage of tailored SMS reminders to increase adherence in treatment programs among sick individuals has suggested an interventional role for SMS in self-care management of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) [3].Self-management of DM, especially type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, is important to avoid acute and long term complications [4].The range of complex requirements of diabetic patients like glucose monitoring, insulin, medication management, psychotherapy, social support and nutrition counseling make self-management of diabetes challenging [5].But use of automated SMS reminders containing diabetic education, cues to action and specific diabetic management suggestions have shown to increase knowledge and improve health monitoring for diabetic patients [6]. Franklin et al established that scheduled, tailored text messaging offered an effected means of supporting adolescents with diabetes and could be adapted for other health-care settings and other chronic diseases [7]. Hussein et al evaluated the feasibility of SMS usage between clinic visits and demonstrated positive effects on glycemic control (via HbA1C) among uncontrolled adult type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) subjects [8]. Although SMS reminders have been particularly useful for teenagers and the elderly [9], Gammo