Understanding insulin dose deviations in people with type 2 diabetes receiving telemonitoring

Although telemonitoring has emerged as a strategy to overcome barriers related to poor adherence, insulin dose deviations remain common. Yet, the reason remains unclear. This study investigated the reasons for dose deviations in people with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (T2D) receiving telemonitoring.

Data were provided from 331 participants with insulin-treated T2D (DiaMonT, NCT04981808). Participants were either telemonitored using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), a connected insulin pen, and an activity watch or treated according to standard of care, using blinded devices. Reasons for dose deviations were categorized, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings.

A total of 24 distinct reasons for insulin dose deviations were reported. These were grouped into: (1) actual deviations (40.1 %; n = 148) (e.g., limited understanding of T2D and access to CGM data), (2) justified deviations (40.7 %; n = 150) (e.g., illness and use of a non-connected pen), and (3) device-related deviations (19.2 %; n = 71) (e.g., technical issues).

This study highlights the need for a nuanced interpretation of adherence data and suggests that telemonitoring should engage patients in treatment discussions and support education in diabetes self-management. These insights are key to maximizing the benefits of telemonitoring while avoiding misinterpretation or over-intervention.