Implementing programs in preventive care for diabetes, such as remote diabetes monitoring of individuals with diabetes, can significantly improve their quality of life. Diabetes is a global health concern affecting 130 million adults in the United States alone. Moreover, preventive care is crucial in minimizing the risks associated with diabetes. This article explores critical strategies in preventive care for diabetes, focusing on the digital health technologies available, such as telehealth and remote diabetes monitoring.
Preventive Care for Diabetes: Education and Awareness
Knowledge is power when it comes to managing diabetes. It is essential to educate oneself about the condition, its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Understanding how lifestyle choices affect blood sugar levels and overall health empowers individuals to make informed decisions. Regularly staying updated with the latest research and guidelines can also enhance one’s ability to manage diabetes effectively.
Healthy Eating Habits Aid in Preventive Care for Diabetes
Maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet management is crucial in preventive care for diabetes. Incorporating a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into daily meals helps regulate blood sugar levels. It is advisable to avoid sugary foods, processed snacks, and excessive consumption of carbohydrates. Portion control and mindful eating can prevent sudden spikes or drops in blood glucose levels.
Regular Exercise
Physical activity is integral to preventive care for diabetes. Regular exercise helps manage weight, improves insulin sensitivity, and lowers blood sugar levels. Finding activities one enjoys, such as walking, cycling, swimming, or dancing, encourages consistency and makes exercise a part of one’s lifestyle. Consulting a healthcare professional before starting any exercise regimen is essential to determine the appropriate intensity and duration based on individual health conditions.
Stress Management
Stress can significantly impact blood sugar levels and overall well-being. Implementing stress reduction techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or engaging in hobbies can help individuals manage stress effectively. Prioritizing self-care and finding healthy ways to cope with stress contribute to better diabetes management and overall health.
Medication Adherence
For individuals who require medication to manage their diabetes, strict patient adherence to prescribed treatments is vital in preventive care for diabetes. Following medication schedules as directed by healthcare professionals ensures the correct dosage and timing, which aids in achieving optimal blood sugar control. In addition, communication with healthcare providers regarding any concerns or side effects is crucial for effective medication management.
Regular Medical Check-ups
Scheduled visits to healthcare professionals play a crucial role in preventive care for diabetes. Regular check-ups allow for comprehensive health assessments, monitoring of diabetes-related complications, and adjustment of treatment plans if necessary. Screenings for conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and eye or kidney problems are essential to detect and address any issues early.
Harnessing Digital Health Technologies
Telehealth, or telemedicine, allows healthcare providers to care for patients remotely through online platforms on their devices. Telemedicine benefits preventive care for diabetes by improving glucose control and A1C levels. Additionally, it enhances patient satisfaction in patients who require daily insulin injections. Cost-effective diabetes prevention programs and remote retinal screening also expedite annual evaluations. Administrative and patient preparation is still necessary for telemedicine visits that often focus on skin, extremities, and foot examinations. Annual in-person visits remain essential for comprehensive foot care and sensory screenings.
Telediabetes visits are conducted in one of two ways. The first method is through a virtual meeting for discussions and virtual monitoring of glucose levels. Physical signs can be observed during video visits, and data can be reviewed remotely. Providers use various video platforms resembling Zoom for telehealth appointments. The second form of interaction is remote diabetes monitoring with remote patient monitoring, which tracks blood glucose levels with a remote patient monitoring device that sends data to the patient’s physician.
Preventive Care and Remote Diabetes Monitoring
Challenges faced by individuals with Type 2 diabetes are further exacerbated when access to healthcare providers is limited, and the cost of appointments becomes a barrier. As a result, managing diabetes can be a financial and logistic burden. Increased access to healthcare through digital health technologies alleviates concerns about managing diabetes between in-office appointments, economic implications, and the mortality risks associated with a chronic condition.
Fortunately, evidence-based research shows digital health technologies are a promising solution. They are offering more affordable and consistent connections to the healthcare system. Furthermore, a study published in the World Journal of Diabetes supports the efficacy of telemedicine in enhancing glycemic control and HbA1c levels for individuals with type 2 diabetes. In addition, telemedicine interventions significantly improve other health outcomes and quality of life scores.
For example, FDA-cleared remote diabetes monitoring medical devices extend the reach of limited clinical resources while keeping patients informed and actively involved in their care. Here are some examples of medical RPM devices used in preventive care for chronic diseases:
- Blood pressure monitors
- Pulse oximeters
- Scales
- Blood Glucose Meters
- Peak Flow Meters
- Digital Thermometers
How Remote Diabetes Monitoring Works in Preventive Care for Diabetes
Remote diabetes monitoring is a method of preventive diabetes care. With RPM, patients’ blood-glucose levels are regularly monitored. Physicians establish thresholds for vital sign readings, receiving immediate alerts whenever fluctuations occur. This proactive approach enables clinicians to intervene and provide appropriate treatment to their patients promptly.
Utilizing remote patient monitoring technologies can aid in reducing hospital readmissions by emphasizing preventive care. For instance, remote diabetes monitoring enables clinicians to observe the effectiveness of treatment and make necessary adjustments to optimize patient care plans.
Furthermore, patients must measure their blood glucose levels at least 16 days per month to participate in a remote patient monitoring program. Lifestyle choices and responsibility are reinforced when patients know their physician is actively monitoring their health data and progress. Frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels with at-home health monitoring devices allows individuals to identify patterns and make necessary lifestyle adjustments. When patients regularly test blood glucose levels, they obtain a clearer picture of how certain foods, physical activities, medications, and stress levels affect diabetes control.
The Tenovi Remote Diabetes Monitoring Blood Glucose Meter
Different kinds of glucose meters exist, but some require extra patient work. Tenovi’s FDA-cleared Blood Glucose Meter (BGM) comes paired and ready to use immediately. The Tenovi BGM kit includes a remote blood glucose monitor, a lancing device, a testing solution, custom lancets, and test strips. Most patients with diabetes should aim to keep blood glucose levels at 80-130mg/dL before a meal or below 180 mg/dL about 2 hours after a meal. Below are tips for how to use Tenovi’s blood glucose meter.
Gather all the materials and perform the following steps with clean hands.
- Insert the test strip into the meter
- Wipe your finger with an alcohol pad and let dry
- Gently prick the side of the finger with the lancet
- Place a drop of blood onto the test strip and wait for the reading
Tenovi Blood Glucose Monitoring Automatic Replenishment Program
Tenovi tracks and analyzes patient usage of lancets and test strips and provides replenishment programs for glucose monitoring supplies. As a result, Tenovi can automatically ship and refill supplies, ensuring patients always have the necessary blood glucose monitoring supplies on hand. Tenovi works exclusively with chronic care management, telehealth, rpm service, and software companies that would like to offer remote patient monitoring devices and remote health solutions to healthcare providers.
Are your partners interested in setting up remote blood glucose monitoring for their patients? Visit tenovi.com to learn more about our no sync, no app RPM hardware and service solutions.
Remote Diabetes Monitoring & Preventive Care for Diabetes Key Points
Preventive care for diabetes is a proactive approach that empowers individuals to take control of their health. By focusing on education, healthy lifestyle choices, blood glucose remote diabetes monitoring, medication adherence, regular medical check-ups, and technology for patient engagement, individuals can significantly reduce the risks associated with diabetes. By adopting these preventive strategies, individuals can delay or even prevent the onset of diabetes, leading to a better quality of life and improved overall health.
Remember, each person’s diabetes management plan may vary, and it is crucial to consult with healthcare professionals for personalized care and support. Healthcare providers can also provide patients with information on continuous glucose monitoring, which monitors glucose levels 24 hours a day. With a proactive approach and the right tools, individuals can navigate the challenges of diabetes while maintaining optimal health and well-being.
Tenovi remote patient monitoring devices, dashboard, billing platform and APIs make starting and scaling remote patient monitoring for preventive care for diabetes easy. Our custom suite of FDA-cleared remote monitoring devices and physician dashboard and billing platform provides solutions for managing chronic conditions efficiently and cost-effectively. Please request a free demo to learn more about how we can help your organization achieve its care management goals.
