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 .
Diabetes intervention in the information age.
Sustained improvement in blood glucose control is the only treatment outcome which will reduce or eliminate the long term complications of diabetes mellitus . We have design ed and evaluated an electronic information system which facilitates this task . The system is voice-interactive , physician directed and affords , to remote patients , 24 h access via touch-tone telephone . Accordingly , patients access the system each day to report self-measured blood glucose levels or hypoglycaemic symptoms together with dietary changes , planned exercise , stress , illness or other lifestyle events . In turn they receive immediate advice with respect to medication dosing changes , and other pertinent feedback . Preliminary system beta-testing for safety and efficacy was performed for one year in an open study of 204 patients derived from two independent , health-care environments . Among the two testing centres , over 60,000 telephone cells were received by the computer systems during the start-up year . Safety and efficacy expectations were met . In addition , prevalence of diabetes related crises ( hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia ) fell approximately 3-fold . Glycated haemoglobin fell significantly ( 1.0 - 1.3 % ) in patients actively using the system . In control groups of patients not actively using the system , there were no improvements in metabolic control while body weights were stable in all groups . The new system was safe and effective in our h and s and empowered our health professionals to provide improved diabetes care
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 .