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 .
A telephone-delivered intervention to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients.
This study was performed to investigate the effect of a telephone-delivered intervention on glycemic control and body mass index in Korean type 2 diabetic patients . 38 patients were r and omly selected , with 20 assigned to a telephone group and 18 to a control group . The goal of the intervention was to keep blood glucose concentrations close to the normal range . The intervention was applied to the telephone group for 12 weeks . It consisted of continuous education and reinforcement of diet , exercise and medication adjustment , as well as frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose levels . Telephone intervention was performed twice per week for the first month , and then weekly for the second and third months . Subjects were requested to write self- management logs , including blood glucose , diet and an exercise diary . The  diet diaries  were analyzed by a dietitian , and subjects instructed about the results by telephone counseling or mail . All medication adjustments were communicated to the subjects ' diabetes specialist . Glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA1c ) , fasting blood glucose ( FBG ) and 2-hour postpr and ial glucose were measured before , and after , the intervention . Patients in the telephone group had a mean decrease of 1.2 % , with those in the control group having a mean increase of 0.6 % , in HbA1c . There were no significant differences in the body mass index ( BMI ) between the two groups . These findings indicated that a telephone-delivered intervention would improve HbA1c , but would not affect BMI
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 .