Text messaging may help increase physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes
Key Takeaway:
Text messaging appears acceptable for promoting activity in Saudi adults with diabetes, but effectiveness is unclear.
Study at a Glance
What was studied
A study of 52 Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes receiving text messages for 6 weeks
Study Type
non-randomized clinical trial (non-RCT or NRCT)
duration
Long-Term (> 12 mo)
Intervention
SMS text messaging behavioral intervention
Outcomes
Physical activity level
Funding
Non-Industry Sponsored
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Main Effects
Physical activity → ↑ (self-reported increase)
Exercise confidence → ↑ (moderate improvement)
Barriers to activity → ↓ (reported decrease)
Evidence Summary
| Intervention | Outcome | Measured Change | Study Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
 SMS text messaging behavioral intervention for health promotion (Behavioral & Lifestyle) |  Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week) (Adherence & Engagement) | Increase | Strong |
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Evidence Suggest
- Text messaging appears feasible and acceptable to Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes and their healthcare providers.
- Participants reported increased physical activity and improved exercise confidence, though these findings need confirmation in a study with a comparison group.
- The intervention revealed a gap in care—physical activity is not consistently discussed during diabetes consultations.
Who this applies to
Adults with type 2 diabetes in Saudi Arabia who own mobile phones
Keep in Mind
Without a comparison group, the observed changes could be due to other factors like seasonal variation or simply being in a study.
Between the Lines
- No comparison group to show if texts caused changes
- Small study with only 52 participants
- Physical activity was self-reported, not measured objectively
- Most participants were urban and well-educated
Journal Reference
Blake H, Alsahli MJ, Chaplin WJ, Konstantinidis STh. The ActiveText@T2D text messaging behavioural intervention to increase physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes: A prospective single-arm feasibility trial. PLOS Digit Health. 2025;4(7):e0000953. doi:10.1371/journal.pdig.0000953
Connected Evidence
Discover how this study fits into the broader diabetes evidence landscape.
This study contributes to evidence on Digital Health Programs and Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week).
Related evidence relationships
Explore in Evidence ArchiveThis study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention–outcome relationships.
Included in these evidence collections
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
Digital Health Programs Evidence Hub
All studies on Digital Health Programs
Contributes to Digital Health Programs evidence base.
Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week) Evidence Hub
All studies measuring Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)
Measures Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week) as a key outcome.
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