Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires close monitoring and management to prevent serious complications. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology provides diabetic patients with a powerful tool to help them better manage their blood sugar levels. By continuously tracking vital signs like blood glucose, RPM allows clinicians to monitor their patients’ conditions closely and make timely adjustments to treatment plans as needed.
But how effective is this approach in improving outcomes for those with diabetes? In this article, we’ll explore the workings of remote blood glucose monitoring and examine the benefits of enhanced diabetes care.
The Current State of Diabetes and Healthcare
Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and the 4th most common cause of physician visits. The estimated annual cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $327 billion. That number is up from $245 billion in 2012 and is projected to increase.
The largest medical expenditures associated with diabetes are:
- Hospital inpatient care (30% of the total medical cost)
- Prescription medications to treat complications of diabetes (30%)
- Anti-diabetic agents and diabetes supplies (15%)
- Physician office visits (13%)
The cost of losing a loved one to diabetes is even more devastating. Diabetes is an endocrine disorder, which requires proper management. If not properly managed, it can cause kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and blindness. Therefore, close monitoring of blood glucose levels is needed to help identify symptoms of type 2 diabetes in its early phases and delay progression. This is why Medicare and Medicaid see the value that remote patient monitoring for diabetes can provide.
Remote Patient Monitoring for Diabetes
With remote patient monitoring for patients with diabetes, physicians can set vital sign reading thresholds to be immediately alerted when fluctuations occur. This way, care providers can quickly take action to treat their patients. RPM technologies help reduce hospital readmissions because providers can identify problems early and provide preventive care. Reducing rehospitalization with remote patient monitoring ultimately lowers the high costs associated with diabetes treatment.
The findings from a study published in the World Journal of Diabetes indicate that telemedicine is effective for improving HbA1c and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, telemedicine interventions can also improve other health outcomes as well as QoL scores significantly.
Patients enrolled in remote patient monitoring for diabetes programs must take their blood-glucose measurements at least 16 days a month. Because they know that care providers will monitor their blood-glucose measurements, patients are more likely to adhere to their treatment plans and adopt healthier behaviors. In addition, remote weight monitoring can be used to help diabetic patients maintain a healthy weight. Remote monitoring also allows clinicians to adjust to optimize patient treatment plans quickly.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a different form of remote monitoring for diabetes. This technology allows patients with diabetes to track glucose levels continuously day and night. Traditional finger-prick tests provide a single glucose reading, while CGM uses a small sensor inserted under the skin to measure glucose levels every few minutes. This data is transmitted to a physician for trend evaluation.
How to Use a Blood Glucose Meter in Remote Patient Monitoring for Diabetes
Tenovi’s Blood Glucose Monitor enables remote patient monitoring for diabetes patients. The kit includes a cell-enabled meter, lancing device, lancet, and custom test strips.
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.
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.
Remote Patient Monitoring for Diabetes and Replacement Supplies
A critical aspect of improving patient non-adherence is making sure that diabetes patients always have glucose monitoring supplies on hand. Tenovi tracks and analyzes patient usage of lancets and test strips. Therefore, they offer a replenishment program for glucose monitoring supplies. Tenovi can automatically ship and refill supplies, ensuring patients always have the necessary blood glucose monitoring supplies on hand.
Diabetes Management
With proper management, individuals with diabetes can have a very high quality of life. By managing blood-glucose levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol, many complications caused by diabetes can be avoided. Blood glucose readings help clinicians and patients understand whether their current management plan is working. Furthermore, a Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology study noted that telehealth remote patient monitoring interventions incorporating more key elements of structured self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG ) appear to have the most significant impact on A1C levels.
The most effective practices for managing diabetes include:
- Taking regular blood glucose measurements
- Following a meal plan
- Exercising
- Consistently taking medications
- Effectively managing stress
The Importance of Regular Blood Glucose Monitoring for Diabetes
Helping to engage patients in regular blood glucose monitoring for diabetes through remote patient monitoring is crucial. Regular blood glucose monitoring allows patients to be more informed and involved in managing their diabetes. They’ll understand how their eating, exercise levels, medications, stress, and other behaviors affect their blood glucose levels. With real-time, accurate blood glucose data, clinicians can efficiently manage patients’ treatment plans to improve outcomes.
Remote patient monitoring does not substitute regular in-office appointments. Individuals with diabetes typically see their doctors every 3-6 months. Remote patient monitoring focuses on providing continual data to physicians for better healthcare between visits to ensure that complications are not progressing.
Tenovi works exclusively with companies that would like to offer the benefits of remote patient monitoring solutions to healthcare providers, including rpm service and software companies, chronic care management companies, and telehealth companies. Are your partners interested in setting up remote patient monitoring for diabetes programs for their patients? Visit tenovi.com to learn more about our no sync, no app RPM hardware and software services.
