“Diabetes Connected Health has the potential to truly impact the way diabetes care is delivered and to improve both clinical and economic outcomes,” insists Alice Watson, MD, MPH, corporate manager for the Center for Connected Health, and a co-author of the paper. “Self-monitoring of blood glucose may have a greater impact when patient data can be shared with a provider in a timely manner, leading to treatment changes and enhanced patient education and motivation.”
The program shuttles patients to a secure website where they can upload, store and graph their glucose readings off-site. Seven patients tested the program in a recent study published in the March issue of the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.
Over the three-month pilot period, mean glucose levels
declined for the seven participating patients. Their providers noted that the
program’s remote glucose readings submitted by patients bolstered their
confidence in adjusting medication. A second study, which will analyze 200 patients, is in the pipeline.
“This study provided valuable feedback from diabetes patients and providers on the utility, benefits and limitations of a web-based diabetes management program,” said Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, Director, Center for Connected Health. “Although the mean number of readings sent per month decreased over time, the number of comments posted per month increased, indicating ongoing engagement.”
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