Effectiveness of the WhatsApp Reminder System on 3J Diet Compliance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Abstract

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a major global health challenge with a continuously increasing prevalence. Effective disease management relies heavily on lifestyle modification, particularly adherence to dietary recommendations. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions, including reminder systems delivered via widely used platforms such as WhatsApp, offer a practical approach to supporting dietary adherence by providing timely prompts and continuous behavioral reinforcement. However, evidence regarding their effectiveness in primary healthcare settings remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a WhatsApp-based reminder system on dietary adherence as the primary outcome and blood glucose levels as the secondary outcome among patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. A quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design was employed involving 20 T2DM patients recruited through purposive sampling at the Kemantan Community Health Center. The intervention consisted of structured dietary reminders delivered regularly over a defined intervention period. Dietary adherence was measured using a validated adherence questionnaire, while blood glucose levels were assessed using standard clinical measurements. Data were analyzed using a paired sample t-test. The results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in dietary adherence, with mean scores increasing from 23.85 to 26.65 (p = 0.002), alongside a significant reduction in mean blood glucose levels from 182.75 mg/dL to 166.15 mg/dL (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that WhatsApp-based reminder interventions may contribute to improved dietary behavior and short-term glycemic control. Nevertheless, the small sample size limits the generalizability of the results, and the findings should be interpreted as preliminary. Future studies with larger samples and controlled designs are recommended to confirm clinical effectiveness and long-term impact.