A culturally and personally tailored cooking application improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.

AimsTo evaluate the effectiveness of the Oishi-kenko mobile cooking application in improving glycemic control, body weight, and dietary behaviors among individuals with type 2 diabetes without professional intervention. MethodsThis 12-week observational study was conducted entirely online. Participants were recruited via the Oishi-kenko website, internet advertisements, and Tsukuba City public relations channels. Of 24,671 website visitors, 214 installed the app, and 65 were included in the final analysis; HbA1c data were available for 24 participants. The app provided personalized, culturally tailored recipe suggestions based on user profiles and dietary standards. Body weight and HbA1c were assessed at baseline and every 4 weeks, and dietary habits were evaluated using the Brief-type Self-administered Diet History Questionnaire (BDHQ). ResultsMean HbA1c decreased from 6.40% at baseline to 6.12% after 12 weeks (-0.28%, P<0.05). Among participants with baseline HbA1c >7%, the reduction was -0.63%. BMI declined from 23.47 to 23.28 overall, with greater reduction among those with baseline BMI [&ge;]25. More frequent app-based cooking and higher baseline HbA1c predicted greater improvement. BDHQ analyses showed reduced intake of salty condiments, noodle soup, and fatty meats, alongside healthier eating behaviors. Over 80% of participants reported improved dietary habits. ConclusionsUse of the Oishi-kenko app was associated with improved glycemic control, modest weight loss, and healthier eating patterns in individuals with type 2 diabetes. These findings support the potential of culturally tailored, stand-alone dietary support applications as scalable tools for diabetes self-management. (The trial registry number: UMIN-CTR, ID: R000053861) HighlightsO_LIOishi-kenko app use significantly reduced HbA1c and BMI in individuals with type 2 diabetes. C_LIO_LIThe study was conducted fully online, from recruitment to data collection, without human intervention. C_LIO_LIParticipants adopted healthier dietary behaviors, including reduced intake of salty condiments, noodle soup, and fatty meats, along with more mindful eating practices. C_LIO_LIThe app shows promise as a stand-alone, culturally tailored digital tool for diabetes self-management without professional intervention. C_LI O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=107 SRC="FIGDIR/small/25342210v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (31K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@771eeborg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@8ed68aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1a70476org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@161b52_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG