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 .
Impact of modem-transferred blood glucose data on clinician work efficiency and patient glycemic control.
BACKGROUND Communication of blood glucose ( BG ) results between patients and health care providers ( HCPs ) is of established benefit and remains a critical part of the diabetes management process . Currently , HCPs typically receive BG data from patients at the time of clinic visits or by telephone . The Accu-Chek Acculink modem ( Roche Diagnostics Corp. , Indianapolis , IN ) provides an additional and attractive option that can potentially facilitate this communication . METHODS To assess the impact of modem transfer of BG , we studied 47 participants with diabetes enrolled in a diabetes education program . Subjects were r and omized to weekly communication of BG data to their HCP by either telephone ( n = 23 ) or modem ( n = 24 ) for 4 weeks . Mean age ( + /- SD ) was 44 + /- 15 years , 62 % were female , 74 % used insulin , 53 % had type 1 diabetes , and mean baseline glycosylated hemoglobin ( A1C ) was 8.8 % ( range 5.2 - 13.2 % ) . RESULTS There were no differences between groups in the amount of time the HCP spent analyzing BG data and communicating with patients ( 12.6 + /- 6.1 min/week in the telephone group and 11.5 + /- 5.1 min/week in the modem group ) or in the number of patient and HCP attempts needed to make contact . There were similar improvements in A1C between groups ( change of -0.4 + /- 0.7 % in the telephone group and -0.9 + /- 1.4 % in the modem group , P = 0.18 ) . BG data provided by telephone had a 6 % error rate , in contrast to modem-sent data , which were transmitted without error . CONCLUSIONS Modem transfer of BG data can provide an accurate and clinical ly useful option for communication between patients and their HCP and has comparable effects on A1C
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 .