Integrating Wearable Devices for Monitoring Physical Activity in Management of Diabetes

Abstract

Physical inactivity being a major risk factor in development of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, it is important to engage people in their own physical training programs which can help increase their activity levels. Measuring physical activity in both healthy and diseased individuals is important to understand normal body functions and its needs for wellbeing. Wearable technology can be integrated in monitoring physical activity by means of various wearable devices fitted with pedometers and accelerometers and smart phone applications. Wearable devices have shown to be effective in increasing the physical activity levels among its users. The large data collected from these devices can act as a guide for important clinical decisions for efficient patient care. Although the large amount of data gathered needs to be evaluated in real time. With new advancements in technology new light weight and small size devices are being developed to overcome the hurdles of use in daily life. Also the issues of safety and privacy of information as well as the user, concerning the general public must be addressed for these devices to be adopted widely.