Diabetes mellitus, which is classified as a leading chronic disease by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a major public health concern globally. Indeed, effective access to optimal diabetes care varies greatly depending on a variety of circumstances, the most common of which are geographic and socioeconomic. Medical technology has helped to greatly extend healthcare options in the last five years, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, lowering barriers and improving access for a larger number of patients. Telehealth has played a significant role in improving diabetes care access (Appuswamy and Desimone, 2020). Patients and healthcare practitioners have embraced a number of realistic and useful telehealth programmes to aid in the assessment and management of diabetes. Telehealth systems for diabetes have evolved to improve disease management, efficiency, clinical decision-making, and patient self-management skills. The use of diabetes telehealth platforms has decreased healthcare expenses while also eliminating inequities in diabetes treatment access.
Using technology and self-management to engage patients
Furthermore, diabetic telehealth systems have proven to be effective in the treatment of DFD, microvascular complications, and mental health support (Kompala and Neinstein, 2021). A slew of digital health-connected gadgets are emerging to help diabetic patients manage their condition on a daily basis while facilitating data exchange and integration. Diabetes telehealth platforms provide a way to expand patient self-management access to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) (Gal et al., 2020).
Telehealth also aids in CGM beginning training by counselling patients on the proper usage of readily inserted, factory-calibrated sensors, as well as platform deployment and intervention through trend detection and potential changes. Between scheduled medical visits, data can be provided for consultation.
Diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) is a serious consequence of diabetes that can result in foot ulcers, skin infections, and even necrosis. Because of the high risk of recurrence and complications, various types of sensors, wearables, and telehealth devices have been proposed to help avoid DFD problems. Foot temperature, plantar pressures, glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can all be monitored using these systems (Golledge et al., 2020). Contact lenses and smart glasses to assess ocular pressure are also being developed and are being considered for diabetes telehealth platforms.
Diabetes-related risk factors should be monitored.
Using diabetes telehealth platforms and introducing different monitoring devices to monitor risk factors linked with diabetes mellitus, such as CGM, DFD, glaucoma, and high blood pressure, has shown significant promise during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with telemedicine consultations (Yarbrough, 2020). This patient-centered approach also helps patients learn how to utilise devices correctly and fosters self-management. Wearables can help assess sensation, peripheral perfusion, Chemosensory Perception, and other variables of interest, in addition to traditional monitoring levels of metabolites and biomarkers, through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) systems. Gait-enhancing mechatronic systems (GEMS), for example, have been shown to improve gait and redistribute foot pressure; vascular early warning systems (VEWS), on the other hand, use infrared optical sensors placed on various parts of the foot to detect changes in blood volume within the microvasculature.
Remote monitoring of the primary risk variables related with diabetes management is possible thanks to sensors, wearables, and telehealth techniques. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a large-scale, worldwide scenario for demonstrating the relevance of introducing such revolutionary technical ways for averting problems while remaining secure at home.
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