Researchers studied whether a smartphone app could help young people with type 1 diabetes improve their body composition. They enrolled 62 children and adolescents, aged 8 to 18, and randomly assigned them to either use the Diactive-1 app for guided resistance training or to continue with their usual care for 24 weeks. The app provided personalized exercise plans based on real-time blood sugar levels.
After six months, the group using the exercise app gained more lean muscle mass and had greater increases in bone mineral content than the usual care group. They also had a lower estimated risk of muscle loss. The study did not find changes in body weight or fat mass measures between the two groups. The researchers did not report any safety or tolerability data from the program.
This was a relatively small study that lasted about six months. While the results are promising, they show an association between using the app and these physical improvements, not proof that the app caused them. More research is needed to see if these benefits last over a longer time and to understand the program's safety. For now, the findings suggest that app-supported resistance training could be a helpful tool for supporting muscle and bone health in young people with type 1 diabetes, but it should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
