Aberer Felix, Hochfellner Daniel A, Mader Julia K
Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Diabetes Ther. 2021 Mar;12(3):629-639. doi: 10.1007/s13300-020-00996-7. Epub 2021 Jan 20.
The utilization of telemedicine solutions to reduce outpatient clinic visits and visits to physicians' offices, thus saving financial and personal resources as well as time, has gained substantial importance in recent years. The COVID19 pandemic has made it necessary to abruptly adjust outpatient care methods in various medical settings that needlessly require consultations in person to monitor and change the disease management of patients in specific risk groups. People with diabetes represent a vulnerable population who need to be protected from avoidable outpatient clinic visits, particularly in times of influenza or other pandemic outbreaks. However, the treatment and care of patients with diabetes and its comorbidities require careful and regular monitoring and therapy adjustments by medical staff. Advanced age or cognitive impairment and insufficient access to the health care system due to low socioeconomic status can complicate the use of possible alternatives to in-person consultations in outpatient clinics or physicians' offices. Telemedicine solutions may offer suitable alternatives to standard face-to-face consultations in outpatient settings and provide sufficient access to appropriate diabetes care. Nevertheless, telemedicine methods for monitoring diabetes issues are yet to find widespread use due to numerous barriers, such as a lack of acceptance and doubt about its time- and cost-effectiveness, availability, and potential technical and regulatory issues. This article offers an overview of existing applications that provide telemedicine diabetes care. Furthermore, it discusses potential ways to restructure and revolutionize diabetes outpatient care.
近年来，利用远程医疗解决方案减少门诊就诊次数以及前往医生办公室的次数，从而节省资金、个人资源和时间，已变得极为重要。新冠疫情使得有必要在各种医疗环境中突然调整门诊护理方式，这些环境中存在不必要的亲自会诊情况，目的是监测并改变特定风险群体患者的疾病管理。糖尿病患者是弱势群体，需要避免不必要的门诊就诊，尤其是在流感或其他疫情爆发期间。然而，糖尿病患者及其合并症的治疗和护理需要医护人员进行仔细且定期的监测以及治疗调整。高龄或认知障碍以及由于社会经济地位低而难以获得医疗保健系统的服务，可能会使在门诊诊所或医生办公室使用面对面会诊的替代方案变得复杂。远程医疗解决方案可能为门诊环境中的标准面对面会诊提供合适的替代方案，并提供充分获得适当糖尿病护理的途径。尽管如此，由于存在诸多障碍，如缺乏接受度、对其时间和成本效益的怀疑、可用性以及潜在的技术和监管问题，用于监测糖尿病问题的远程医疗方法尚未得到广泛应用。本文概述了提供远程医疗糖尿病护理的现有应用。此外，还讨论了重组和彻底改变糖尿病门诊护理的潜在方法。
