Telehealth is comparable to in-person visits for managing T1D

Telehealth can be a valuable alternative to traditional in-person visits for managing T1D, offering comparable HbA1c control and several additional benefits, according to a new study.

The findings suggest that telehealth can enhance the quality of diabetes care and potentially improve patient outcomes, particularly in rural or underserved areas where access to specialized healthcare may be limited.

In addition to being noninferior in terms of HbA1c levels, the telehealth approach offers several advantages, including:

Improved Time in Range: Participants using telehealth experienced a significant improvement in time spent within the target glucose range, which is a positive indicator of diabetes management.

Reduced Time Above Range: The telehealth group also showed a significant reduction in time spent with high blood glucose levels, which is beneficial for overall health and diabetes management.

Enhanced Quality of Life: The Diabetes Quality of Life questionnaire (EsDQoL) scores improved significantly for participants using the telehealth model.

Lower Costs for Participants: The study found that the costs for participants using telehealth were lower compared to those attending in-person visits.

Reference
Ballesta S, Chillarón JJ, Inglada Y, et al. Telehealth model versus in-person standard care for persons with type 1 diabetes treated with multiple daily injections: an open-label randomized controlled trial. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1176765. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1176765. PMID: 37441496; PMCID: PMC10333924.