Results Telemedicine programs that include a nutritional component show similar effect in diabetes management as those programs that do not .
Furthermore , subgroup analysis reveals that nutritional intervention via SMS such as email and text messages is at least as equally effective in reducing HbA1c when compared to personal nutritional counseling with a practitioner over videoconference or telephone .
Conclusion The inclusion of nutritional counseling as part of a telemedicine program does not make a significant difference to diabetes outcomes .
Incorporating nutritional counseling into telemedicine programs via SMS is at least as effective as counseling via telephone or videoconference
Background A growing number of studies and review s have documented the impact of telemedicine on diabetes management .
However , no meta- analysis has assessed whether including nutritional counseling as part of a telemedicine program has a significant impact on diabetes outcomes or what kind of nutritional counseling is most effective .
Managing diabetes care using an integrated regional e-health approach
A total of 175 patients with Types 1 and 2 diabetes in primary care and university hospital outpatient departments were r and omized into a study group ( n = 101 ) or usual care ( n = 74 ) . The study group used an e-health application with a diabetes management system and a home care link . Usual care did not involve e-health , i.e. the patients made regular general practitioner visits about every three months . After 12 months HbA1c decreased significantly in both groups of patients . The differences were small , but HbA1c was significantly lower in the study group than the controls . Diastolic blood pressure , fasting plasma glucose , serum total cholesterol , serum LDL-cholesterol and serum triglycerides were significantly lower in the study than in the control group . This was achieved with fewer visits by study patients to doctors and nurses . Use of e-health in diabetes care for 12 months was able to provide equivalent diabetic control to usual care , and improved cardiovascular risk factors
Results Telemedicine programs that include a nutritional component show similar effect in diabetes management as those programs that do not .
Furthermore , subgroup analysis reveals that nutritional intervention via SMS such as email and text messages is at least as equally effective in reducing HbA1c when compared to personal nutritional counseling with a practitioner over videoconference or telephone .
Conclusion The inclusion of nutritional counseling as part of a telemedicine program does not make a significant difference to diabetes outcomes .
Incorporating nutritional counseling into telemedicine programs via SMS is at least as effective as counseling via telephone or videoconference
Background A growing number of studies and review s have documented the impact of telemedicine on diabetes management .
However , no meta- analysis has assessed whether including nutritional counseling as part of a telemedicine program has a significant impact on diabetes outcomes or what kind of nutritional counseling is most effective .