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Telemedicine influence on the follow-up of type 2 diabetes patients
María I Rodríguez-Idígoras1, Jesús Sepúlveda-Muñoz, Ramón Sánchez-Garrido-Escudero
1Research and Quality Unit, Province of Málaga Health Department, Andalusian Health Service, Junta de Andalucía, Spain. misabel.rodríguez@juntadeandalucia.es
Objective:
This study was designed to evaluate the impact of a teleassistance system on the metabolic control of type 2 diabetes patients.
Research Design And Methods:
We conducted a 1-year controlled parallel-group trial comparing patients randomized (1) to an intervention group, assigned to a teleassistance system using real-time transmission of blood glucose results, with immediate reply when necessary, and telephone consultations, or (2) to a control group, being regularly followed-up at their healthcare center. Study subjects were type 2 diabetes patients >30 years of age followed in the primary care setting.
Results:
A total of 328 type 2 diabetes patients were recruited from 35 family practices in the province of Málaga, Spain. There was a reduction in hemoglobin A1c after 12 months from 7.62 +/- 1.60% to 7.40 +/- 1.43% (P = 0.027) in the intervention group and from 7.44 +/- 1.31% to 7.35 +/- 1.38% (P = 0.303) in the control group. The difference in the change between groups was not statistically significant. There was also a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and body mass index in the intervention group. In the control group, the only significant decline was in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Conclusions:
A teleassistance system using real-time transmission of blood glucose results with an option to make telephone consultations is feasible in the primary care setting as a support tool for family physicians in their follow-up of type 2 diabetes patients.
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