Remote Healthcare For Diabetes Management

Understanding Diabetes and Remote Healthcare Services

Diabetes, a widespread chronic disease, affects millions of people globally. Its management involves complex skills, including insulin administration, blood glucose monitoring, and maintaining proper nutrition. During the COVID-19 pandemic, managing diabetes became challenging due to disruptions in routine healthcare services. It is during this time that telemedicine emerged as an efficient and popular solution for supporting patients with diabetes and, since then, has become an indispensable tool for the management of diabetes. Telemedicine allows medical professionals to monitor patients by providing guidance, offering timely interventions, ensuring continuity of care, and addressing the unique needs of individuals with diabetes.

Let us explore the role of telehealth in diabetes management and discuss its benefits, challenges and potential to empower individuals with diabetes.

The Applications of Remote Healthcare Services

Technology has become increasingly important in healthcare delivery over the past decade and the COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the adoption of telehealth and remote healthcare services. Telehealth or remote healthcare services refer to a broad range of electronic tools and services that support remote health and medical care delivery and encompasses various electronic platforms like video and audio platforms, data management technologies and health apps. 

The applications of telehealth include:

• It enables virtual medical visits, allowing healthcare providers and patients to connect remotely, at the same time, facilitating secure communication channels between healthcare providers and patients for consultations and follow-ups.
• It shows promise in reducing healthcare disparities, particularly for individuals in rural areas or with limited access to medical care, overcoming geographical barriers and providing care to those in underserved areas.
• It has expanded its reach to cover several acute and chronic conditions and has been highly advantageous for conditions like diabetes that require regular monitoring. Devices such as internet-connected blood glucose meters and continuous glucose monitoring systems have been used in the remote monitoring and management of diabetes.

Overall, the rise of remote healthcare services, driven by technology and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has opened up new possibilities for healthcare delivery, accessibility, and management of medical conditions, such as diabetes.

Remote Diabetes Management Solutions

Here are some systems used for remote diabetes care:

• Connected Glucose Meters: Many self-use fingerstick blood glucose meters now have internet connectivity and can capture data related to your glucose results, medications, and physical activity. This information can directly be sent across to the treating physician for remote monitoring and management.
• Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Systems: These devices continuously monitor glucose levels and provide real-time glucose information, detect patterns, and may offer alarms for imminent high and low glucose levels. They transmit data through a smartphone app or wirelessly to the treating physician who can remotely make alterations to the treatment plan based on your glucose level patterns.
• Smart Insulin Pens and Pen Caps: These devices record and transmit insulin dosing data. They calculate bolus doses, taking into account insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios, insulin correction factor and insulin remaining after the previous dose. Smartpen/cap data can be reviewed remotely and uploaded to data management platforms.
• Insulin Pumps: Insulin pumps are high-tech devices that deliver insulin subcutaneously, that is under the skin, at programmed rates. Pumps combined with CGM systems have the ability to suspend insulin delivery during events of hypoglycaemia and automatically adjust insulin doses to prevent hypo or hyperglycaemia based on CGM data.
• Health Apps and Personal Digital Devices: Smartphone health apps and devices offer various features for diabetes management including diabetes coaching and education, management support and even monitoring of electrocardiograms. It's important to note that not all apps are regulated by the Food and Drugs Administration, and caution should be exercised in their selection.

Remote patient monitoring allows healthcare providers to securely collect and review patient health data, including glucose levels and insulin dosing. Data can be shared with healthcare professionals through online platforms for remote treatment and monitoring. These tools provide convenience, real-time data, and opportunities for improved diabetes care without the need for in-person visits. At the same time, it is crucial to consult data from reliable resources such as the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes for guidance on selecting appropriate remote diabetes management solutions.

Advantages of Remote Healthcare Services

• Access for Hearing Impaired: Telehealth eliminates the need for in-person doctor visits that require translator companions for the hearing impaired as it allows the use of video translators, thereby providing independence and access to healthcare for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Language Barriers: Telehealth provides the advantage of making use of audio and video translation services, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder communication between patients and healthcare providers.
• Rural Access: Telehealth helps overcome geographical barriers, connecting rural populations with healthcare providers, and improving access to diabetes education, nutrition counselling and diabetes management strategy.
• Customised Care: Telehealth allows personalised diabetes care, enabling providers to review patient data before appointments and fostering greater engagement and self-efficacy.
• Home Environment Assessment: Providers can virtually assess patients' home environments, gaining insights into diabetes management challenges and can provide tailored guidance.
• Insulin Initiation and Education: Telehealth facilitates remote insulin initiation and intensive education for newly diagnosed patients, reducing hospital stays and minimising infection risks.
• Cost-Effective and Timesaving: Telehealth eliminates travel expenses and waiting room delays, making diabetes care more cost-effective and time efficient.

Conclusion

A significant percentage of individuals with diabetes who used telehealth during the pandemic expressed a preference for its use in future appointments. This indicates a potential shift in healthcare delivery towards a hybrid model, combining in-person and telehealth visits based on patient needs and preferences.

In conclusion, telehealth has emerged as a vital solution for managing diabetes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. By leveraging remote healthcare services, individuals with diabetes can access personalised care, overcome barriers, and achieve better health outcomes from the comfort of their homes.