Telemedical Care in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction: Telemedical programs using patient training units and coaching over the phone and telemonitoring of blood glucose (measurement of values at home and transfer to a telemedical centre) complement the care for patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in family medicine. This evaluation investigates changes of body mass index and HbA1c in patients who participated in such a program.

Methods: We analysed a case series (N = 123) including patients who completed the telemedical program for patients with type 2 diabetes provided at Swiss Center for Telemedicine Medgate. Outcomes were changes in HbA1c and BMI between start and completion of the program. Additionally, we analysed whether changes in HbA1c and BMI depend on age, gender, presence of complications, length of time in program, and changes in medication using multivariate linear regression models.

Results: Mean HbA1c at program start was 7,30 %, and decreased statistically significantly by 0,53 %. Correspondingly, mean BMI declined by 0,9 kg/m2 and was 29,7 kg/m2 at completion of the program. Changes in HbA1c and BMI did not depend on age, gender, presence of complications, length of time in program, or changes in medication.

Conclusions: This evaluation shows that effect estimates for telemedical programs for type 2 diabetes derived from clinical trials can be verified in routine patient care.

(State: 14.05.2013)