Teleconsultation in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (TELEDIAB)

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects on glycemic control of Teleconsultation versus standard visit in outpatient clinic for patients affected by type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The growing incidence of diabetes and the need to contain health care costs empower the necessity to identify new models to cope with regular periodic follow up of patients affected by diabetes mellitus. Telemedicine offers an acknowledged instrument to provide clinical health care at a distance, increasing patient compliance and the achievement of therapeutical goals. This study wants to verify the feasibility and the efficacy of teleconsultation in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. In particular by a randomized controlled approach the effects on glycemic control of patients followed by teleconsultation or traditionally in standard visit in the outpatient clinic. The patients in the teleconsultation group will arrange their bookings on a website (http://www.telediabete-fid.it/) In this website they could also access to web educational courses (mainly nutrition, insulin management, glucose monitoring auto-control) or to nutritional and psychological counselling.

The patients in the consultation group arranged their bookings on a website, where they could also access to web educational courses or to nutritional and psychological counselling

HbA1c is the main parameter representing the overall glycemic control. HbA1c can be assessed on three month bases but the value at 12 month is more representative of a sustained effect of this new approach

Patient satisfactory assessment by a questionnaire on their perception of advantages (diabetes management, comfort and convenience) and limits (technical problems, poor interaction with physicians) of the service

Cost analysis by patient estimation through a questionnaire of the overall cost and time saved thanks to the service

Inclusion Criteria: patients affected by type 1 diabetes mellitus, 5-50 years old under multi injection insulin therapy or under continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion with a feasible web access Exclusion Criteria: without a feasible web access that need a periodic physical examination

Bertuzzi F, Stefani I, Rivolta B, Pintaudi B, Meneghini E, Luzi L, Mazzone A. Teleconsultation in type 1 diabetes mellitus (TELEDIABE). Acta Diabetol. 2018 Feb;55(2):185-192. doi: 10.1007/s00592-017-1084-9. Epub 2017 Dec 5.