Conclusions Telemonitoring interventions may be a better option than usual care in improving glycated haemoglobin control of patients with type 2 diabetes .
Aims This study evaluated clinical effectiveness of telemonitoring on the management of patients with type 2 diabetes .
Supported Telemonitoring and Glycemic Control in People with Type 2 Diabetes: The Telescot Diabetes Pragmatic Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Background Self-monitoring of blood glucose among people with type 2 diabetes not treated with insulin does not appear to be effective in improving glycemic control . We investigated whether health professional review of telemetrically transmitted self-monitored glucose results in improved glycemic control in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes . Methods and Findings We performed a r and omized , parallel , investigator-blind controlled trial with central ized r and omization in family practice s in four regions of the United Kingdom among 321 people with type 2 diabetes and glycated hemoglobin ( HbA1c ) > 58 mmol/mol . The supported telemonitoring intervention involved self-measurement and transmission to a secure website of twice-weekly morning and evening glucose for review by family practice clinicians who were not blinded to allocation group . The control group received usual care , with at least annual review and more frequent review s for  people with poor glycemic or blood pressure control .  HbA1c assessed at 9 mo was the primary outcome . Intention-to-treat analyses were performed . 160 people were r and omized to the intervention group and 161 to the usual care group between June 6 , 2011 , and July 19 , 2013 .  HbA1c data at follow-up were available for 146 people in the intervention group and 139 people in the control group . The mean ( SD ) HbA1c at follow-up was 63.0 ( 15.5 ) mmol/mol in the intervention group and 67.8 ( 14.7 ) mmol/mol in the usual care group . For primary analysis , adjusted mean HbA1c was 5.60 mmol/mol / 0.51 % lower ( 95 % CI 2.38 to 8.81 mmol/mol/ 95 % CI 0.22 % to 0.81 % , p = 0·0007 ) . For secondary analyses , adjusted mean ambulatory systolic blood pressure was 3.06 mmHg lower ( 95 % CI 0.56–5.56 mmHg , p = 0.017 ) and mean ambulatory diastolic blood pressure was 2.17 mmHg lower ( 95 % CI 0.62–3.72 , p = 0.006 ) among people in the intervention group when compared with usual care after adjustment for baseline differences and minimization strata . No significant differences were identified between groups in weight , treatment pattern , adherence to medication , or quality of life in secondary analyses . There were few adverse events and these were equally distributed between the intervention and control groups . In secondary analysis , there was a greater number of telephone calls between practice nurses and patients in the intervention compared with control group ( rate ratio 7.50 ( 95 % CI 4.45–12.65 , p < 0.0001 ) but no other significant differences between groups in use of health services were identified between groups . Key limitations include potential lack of representativeness of trial participants , inability to blind participants and health professionals , and uncertainty about the mechanism , the duration of the effect , and the optimal length of the intervention . Conclusions Supported telemonitoring result ed in clinical ly important improvements in control of glycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes in family practice . Current Controlled Trials , registration number IS RCT N71674628 . Trial Registration Current Controlled Trials IS RCT N
Conclusions Telemonitoring interventions may be a better option than usual care in improving glycated haemoglobin control of patients with type 2 diabetes .
Aims This study evaluated clinical effectiveness of telemonitoring on the management of patients with type 2 diabetes .