Telemedicine system associated with better treatment satisfaction and quality of life
MONDAY, Jan. 18 (HealthDay News) -- A new telemedicine system is as effective and more flexible than standard carbohydrate counting in treating adults with type 1 diabetes, according to a study in the January issue of Diabetes Care.
Maria C.E. Rossi, of Consorzio Mario Negri Sud in Santa Maria Imbaro, Italy, and colleagues randomly assigned 130 adults with type 1 diabetes to a Diabetes Interactive Diary (DID) or to standard education (carbohydrate counting).
The researchers found that time for education was significantly shorter for patients assigned to the DID (six versus 12 hours). Both groups had similar reductions in hemoglobin A1c, and there were no severe hypoglycemic episodes. Patients assigned to the diary tended to have improved fasting blood glucose and body weight, although this did not reach statistical significance. However, the DID group had a significantly higher increase in treatment satisfaction, as well as significantly greater improvement in quality of life (physical, general health, vitality, and role emotional scores).
"DID is at least as effective as traditional carbohydrate counting education, allowing dietary freedom for a larger proportion of type 1 diabetic patients," the authors conclude. "DID is safe, requires less time for education, and is associated with lower weight gain. DID significantly improved treatment satisfaction and several quality-of-life dimensions."
Me.Te.Da developed the DID system and funded the study with Lifescan; one author reported being a medical consultant for Me.Te.Da.
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