Use of telemedicine improves glycemic control and quality of life in type 1 diabetes children on insulin pump therapy

Abstract

Rationale: Healthcare access plays a significant role in the improvement and maintaining of glycemic control and quality of life in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of remote support in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and its effect on glycemic control and quality of life. Materials and methods: In 40 children and adolescents (132,7 years, 18/22 m/f) on CSII with inadequately controlled T1DM (HbA1c7,5%) we evaluated the effectiveness of telemedical support (TS), as compared with conventional support (CS). Parameters of glycemic control (HbA1c, average glycemia, SD, etc.) and quality of a life were obtained on follow-up visits. Patients and their parents in ТМ group twice a month sent their insulin pump data using to CSII center and diabetologists sent back their advice via e-mail, phone or Skype. The primary end point was the change from the baseline HbA1c level and the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c of less than 7.5%. Results: At 24 weeks, the baseline mean HbA1c (8.7% in the two study groups) had decreased to 7.7% in the TS group, as compared with 8.4% in the CS group (P0,05). The proportion of patients who reached the HbA1c target (7,5%) was greater in the TS group (50%) than in the CS group (20%, p0,05). A number of quality of life indicators for both parents and children with T1DM at the end of the study compared to baseline significantly increased in the TS group compared with the TC group (p0.05). During the study period rate of severe hypoglycemia and DKA in TS group (0 and 10 cases per 100 person-years) did not differ significantly from that in CS group (0 and 20 cases per 100 person-years, P0,05). Conclusion: In children with inadequately controlled T1DM, telemedical support proved to be feasible and resulted in significant improvement in glucose control (HbA1c, glucose variability) and quality of life without the increase in the incidence of DKA and severe glycemia.