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 Telemedicine System That Includes a Personal Assistant Improves Glycemic Control in Pump-Treated Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Background : The DIABTel system , a Web-based telemedicine application , integrates a whole communication system ( glucometer , insulin pump , wireless h and -held assistant ) for medical remote advice . We sought to evaluate , in terms of glycemic control , the DIABTel system in a r and omized crossover clinical study . Methods : Ten patients with type 1 diabetes [ 5 women , age 40.6 ( 21–62 ) years , diabetes duration 14.7 ( 3–52 ) years ] were included . During the 4-week active phase , data sent by patients were analyzed by the physician and modifications of the basal rate and bolus were advised in the following 24 hours . During the control phase , patients sent glucose data without any feedback from the medical center . Results : The mean numbers of daily glucose values and bolus sent by patients during the active period were 4.46 ± 0.91 and 4.58 ± 0.89 , respectively . The personal digital assistant functionalities used more frequently by patients were ( times per week ) data visualization ( 8.1 ± 6.8 ) , data download from the insulin pump ( 6.8 ± 3.3 ) , and synchronization with the telemedicine server ( 8.5 ± 4.9 ) . After the experimental phase , serum fructosamine decreased significantly ( 393 ± 32 vs 366 ± 25 μmol/liter ; p < 0.05 ) and hemoglobin A1c ( HbA1c ) tended to decrease ( 8.0 ± 0.6 vs 7.78 ± 0.6 ; p = 0.073 ) , whereas no changes were observed during the control phase . The number of treatment modifications proposed and performed by the patients correlated with the change observed in HbA1c during the active phase ( r = −0.729 , p = 0.017 ) . Conclusions : The DIABTel system , a telemedicine system that includes a wireless personal assistant for remote treatment advising , allows better glycemic control in pump-treated patients with type 1 diabetes . To our knowledge , this is the first study that demonstrates improved glycemic control with the use of a telemedicine system that incorporates insulin delivery data
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 .