The Regional Hospital of Malaga, Autonomous Community of Andalusia, has launched telemedicine consultations for patients with diabetes type 1, which is difficult to control.
The Diabetes Unit of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of the Malaga hospital has established a remote consultation programme for those patients with type 1 diabetes who undergo intensive treatment with subcutaneous insulin micro-infusers. To date, 75 patients have benefited from telemonitoring by specialists, which results in better metabolic control and greater patient autonomy as well as an improved quality of life.
The telemedicine consultations started in 2009 with a group of about 15 insulin dependent patients undergoing therapies with integrated systems performing subcutaneous infusions of insulin and continuously monitoring blood glucose levels in the subcutaneous tissue. After one year the specialists of the Diabetes Unit found that the global metabolic control of the concerned patients improved and their blood glucose stability increased.
Another advantage of teleconsultation is that the frequency of patient visits to the hospital is divided by two; the visits take place every six or nine months – depending on the metabolic control – instead of every three months previously. Likewise, patients show better adherence to treatment as they can better control and trust the process with the help of professionals, through electronic channels. Based on the positive results reached, 60 more patients have been included in the programme during 2010.
Each month the participating patients send detailed information via the Internet on, among other aspects: their capillary glucoses measurements and on the self-analysis of glucose they perform daily (from four to eight times a day); the quantity of insulin infused; the food consumed; the physical activities performed; and possible incidents. In the course of the next 48 hours, during the teleconsultation, the specialists of the Diabetes Unit send an answer with therapeutic recommendations by email or SMS. The insulin is stored in a renewable cartridge and infused by means of an electronic system through a catheter connected to a subcutaneous insertion tube that is changed every three days.
Currently, 200 patients are receiving therapies based on the subcutaneous infusion of insulin in the health centre of Malaga. 35 of these patients benefit from the integrated systems with infusers and sensors continuously monitoring their glucose levels. The Regional Hospital of Malaga is the Spanish health centre with the most patients benefiting from such systems.
Thanks to the continuous real time monitoring of glucose levels, the patients can know their levels of glucose at any time. Moreover, a warning device informs them of whether their levels are above or below the limits established, thus enabling them to prevent possible alterations derived from severe hypo/hyperglycaemia.
Source: ePractice EU