Researchers tested a smartphone app designed to help people with type 2 diabetes eat fewer carbohydrates. Nearly 100 people in Australia used the app for three months while getting regular medical care. The results were encouraging: people felt healthier, more confident managing their diabetes, and less worried about their condition. While sleep improvements weren’t dramatic, the overall benefits suggest that this type of app could be a helpful tool alongside regular doctor visits for people managing type 2 diabetes.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether a smartphone app that teaches people to eat fewer carbohydrates could improve sleep, stress levels, and overall well-being in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Who participated: 99 Australian adults with type 2 diabetes (average age 59 years, about 55% women) who had internet access and were referred by their doctors.
- Key finding: After 3 months, people using the app reported feeling healthier, felt more confident managing their diabetes, and experienced less diabetes-related stress. They also reduced their carbohydrate intake by about 14% of their daily calories.
- What it means for you: If you have type 2 diabetes and want to try a low-carb approach, this app might help you feel better emotionally and more in control of your condition. However, this was a small study, so talk with your doctor before making major dietary changes.
The Research Details
This was a straightforward study where researchers followed the same group of people over time. All 99 participants used the Defeat Diabetes app for three months while continuing their regular medical care. Before starting and after three months, participants answered questions about their sleep quality, overall health, stress about diabetes, and confidence in managing their condition. They also reported what they ate so researchers could track carbohydrate intake.
The app itself provided education about low-carbohydrate eating and tools to help people manage their diabetes day-to-day. Researchers used validated questionnaires—meaning these are standard, trusted tools that scientists use worldwide to measure these outcomes accurately.
This type of study is useful for getting a quick look at whether something might work, but it has limitations because there was no comparison group of people who didn’t use the app.
Understanding how digital tools can support diabetes management is important because many people prefer using apps on their phones rather than attending frequent clinic visits. This study shows that apps can do more than just track numbers—they can actually improve how people feel emotionally and mentally, which is just as important as physical health.
The study used validated, internationally recognized questionnaires to measure outcomes, which strengthens the reliability of results. However, the study only included 99 people and had no control group for comparison. Participants were self-selected (they chose to use the app), which means they might have been more motivated than the average person with diabetes. Results are based on self-reported information, which can sometimes be less accurate than objective measurements.
What the Results Show
The most important finding was that people’s perceived health status improved significantly—they reported feeling healthier after three months. On average, their health perception scores increased by 6 points on the measurement scale used.
Participants also became more confident in managing their diabetes. Their self-efficacy scores (a measure of how capable they feel) increased by 5 points, which was statistically significant and meaningful in practical terms.
Diabetes-related distress—the worry and stress people feel about managing their condition—decreased by 2 points on the measurement scale. This suggests the app helped reduce anxiety about diabetes management.
As intended, carbohydrate intake decreased by about 14% of daily calories, showing that people were actually following the low-carb approach the app taught them.
Sleep quality showed improvement, but the changes were not statistically significant, meaning they could have happened by chance. This doesn’t mean sleep didn’t improve—it just means the improvement wasn’t strong enough to be confident it was due to the app rather than other factors. Quality of life measures showed positive trends but weren’t formally analyzed in the main results.
Previous research has shown that low-carbohydrate diets can help with blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes. This study adds to that knowledge by showing that using an app to support this approach also improves mental health and confidence. The finding that digital tools can reduce diabetes-related stress is relatively newer and aligns with growing evidence that mental health support is crucial for diabetes management.
The study had no control group—researchers couldn’t compare the app users to people who didn’t use the app, so some improvements might have happened anyway. The study only lasted three months, so we don’t know if benefits continue longer. Participants were self-selected and had internet access, which means results might not apply to everyone with type 2 diabetes. All measurements were self-reported, which can be less accurate than objective tests. The study was conducted in Australia, so results might differ in other countries with different healthcare systems.
The Bottom Line
For people with type 2 diabetes interested in trying a low-carbohydrate approach: This app appears to be a helpful tool that could improve how you feel about managing your condition and reduce stress. Use it alongside regular doctor visits, not instead of them. Moderate confidence level—the study is promising but relatively small. For healthcare providers: Consider recommending this type of app as a supplement to standard diabetes care, particularly for patients interested in low-carb approaches. Low to moderate confidence level pending larger studies.
This research is most relevant for adults with type 2 diabetes who have internet access and are interested in dietary approaches to managing their condition. It may be particularly helpful for people who feel stressed or anxious about diabetes management. People with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women, or those with certain medical conditions should consult their doctor before making dietary changes. Those without internet access or smartphone capability wouldn’t benefit from this particular app.
Based on this study, you might notice improvements in how you feel about managing your diabetes within 3 months. However, changes in blood sugar control and other physical health markers may take longer. Consistency with using the app is important—sporadic use is unlikely to produce these benefits.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily carbohydrate intake as a percentage of total calories (aim for the reduction shown in the study: about 14% reduction from baseline). Also track a weekly ‘diabetes stress score’ on a scale of 1-10 to monitor emotional well-being alongside dietary changes.
- Set a daily reminder to log meals in the app and review one educational module per week about low-carbohydrate eating. This consistent engagement appears to be what drove the improvements in the study.
- Check in monthly with your overall health perception (rate how healthy you feel on a scale of 1-10) and your confidence in managing diabetes. Share these trends with your doctor at regular appointments to ensure the app is supporting your overall diabetes management plan.
This research describes the potential benefits of a low-carbohydrate diet app for people with type 2 diabetes, but it is not medical advice. Before making significant dietary changes or starting any new diabetes management approach, consult with your doctor or registered dietitian. This study involved a small group of self-selected participants over three months, so results may not apply to everyone. Do not use this app as a replacement for medical care, medications prescribed by your doctor, or regular health monitoring. If you experience any concerning symptoms or changes in your blood sugar levels, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.