Effectiveness of Telemedicine in Controlling Hyperglycemia Among Diabetic Patients on Insulin Therapy in Primary Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of telemedicine in managing glucose levels in insulin-treated diabetes patients compared to standard care. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) criteria and Cochrane's risk of bias tool, an analysis of five selected studies reveals telemedicine as a potent tool in diabetes management. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) test results from two studies involving an eight-hour fast with 109 participants demonstrate a significant superiority of telemedicine over usual care (Tau2 = 1.63; Chi2 = 1.01, df = 1, P = 0.32; Z = 2.43, P = 0.02), highlighting its potential in short-term blood sugar stabilization. Postprandial plasma glucose (PPBG) test outcomes suggest comparable efficacy in managing post-meal blood glucose levels with telemedicine. Additionally, analysis of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels across all five studies indicates telemedicine's equivalence to traditional care in maintaining HbA1c levels among insulin-treated patients, affirming its efficacy in primary care. While emphasizing telemedicine's effectiveness in managing FBS levels, a critical aspect of diabetes control, among patients utilizing insulin therapy in primary care, the study underscores the need for more extensive, large-scale research to fully comprehend its impact on diabetes management.