Telemedicine Visits Comparable for Glycemic Control in T1DM

Among patients with type 1 diabetes and suboptimal glycemic control, replacement of an intermediate face-to-face visit with a telemedicine session did not affect outcomes, according to a study published online January in Diabetes Care.

Maria S. Ruiz de Adana, M.D., Ph.D., from the Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga in Spain, and colleagues randomly assigned 379 patients with type 1 diabetes and suboptimal metabolic control (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] <8 percent) to three face-to-face visits (control; 167 patients) or the replacement of an intermediate face-to-face visit with a telemedicine visit (intervention; 163 patients). Mean change in HbA1c levels from baseline to month 6 and other efficacy and safety end points were assessed.

The researchers found that at month 6, the mean change in HbA1c levels was −0.04 in the control group and 0.01 in the intervention group. In the two groups, the number of patients who achieved HbA1c <7 percent was 73 and 78, respectively. There were no significant differences noted between the groups regarding safety end points at six months. There were no significant between-group differences in changes in health-related quality of life from the first visit to the final visit. Differences between the groups at baseline with respect to fear of hypoglycemia remained unchanged at follow-up.

"The study allows us to prove the advantages of this innovative care option in the usual follow-up of this specific profile of people with type 1 diabetes and shows that telemedicine may improve patient access to health care and diabetes management in some geographic areas," the authors write.

The study was funded by Sanofi.

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