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Home > About Breakthrough T1D UK & our impact > About Breakthrough T1D > Position statements > Breakthrough T1D UK’s position statement on the provision of telemedicine for people with type 1 diabetes
Telemedicine, including virtual appointments, is the provision of health related services and information via the telephone or online. It allows remote patient and clinician contact, advice, care, monitoring, intervention and education, without the patient needing to attend a healthcare facility. People with type 1 diabetes have experienced an increase in telemedicine provision in 2020.
Before COVID-19 virtual clinics for type 1 diabetes in the UK were few and far between. Many clinics already used web services to view data shared by their patients, such as Diasend, Carelink and Nightscout. However, whilst some diabetes clinicians used virtual appointments, the majority did not. The pandemic forced the NHS to to transform rapidly, and embrace innovation out of necessity. Face to face outpatient appointments and clinics stopped, and where it was possible, moved online or via phone call.
Some diabetes technology training and commencement has switched to online provision for both people with type 1 and for clinicians. These look set to continue at least for the foreseeable future and maybe long term. Where clinics had to postpone pump starts or renewals, for example, some are now re-starting as virtual sessions (autumn 2020).
Patients report having more time with their clinicians virtually. Increased time in appointments was a key recommendation of Breakthrough T1D UK’s Pathway to Choice report focused on increasing access to diabetes technology. Shorter follow-up appointments can be easier to facilitate and offering virtual appointments can help to increase capacity and efficiency for clinicians due to time savings. A number of patients have found they are more comfortable in their own home and therefore share more with their clinicians; and we have heard of instances where the whole family can get involved if they are all at home. It has also been reported that virtual clinics may increase interactions in between appointments. Increased patient interaction is a contributing factor to improved outcomes and HbA1c. Virtual appointments can also be beneficial to those who have far to travel to their clinic, or those with mobility issues. They can also mean a patient can meet with more than one specialist at a time, instead of having to travel for multiple appointments.
But there has long been a lack of formal evidence on the effectiveness of telemedicine. And we are yet to fully understand the negative consequences of the current increase in telemedicine. They could potentially include risks of complications, eating disorders and mental health issues being harder to identify. There is conflicting information to support both yes and no. There is also a fear that virtual clinics could lead to further access inequalities, such as rural patients with poor internet connectivity, patients with low IT skills, and patients who receive their type 1 diabetes care from a GP instead of a diabetes clinic (as GP surgeries are digitally evolving at a different pace). Note that it is recommended that clinical advice should be provided to people with type 1 diabetes by a specialist diabetes multidisciplinary team.
With the pandemic continuing, virtual clinics are here to stay for the time being. People with type 1 diabetes should not lose any benefits that have been gained by the introduction of virtual clinics in the long term, and it would be worth exploring whether the option of a blended approach was positive – that is, virtual clinics where appropriate/the patient chooses, and face to face appointments if telemedicine is not a suitable option.
We would also urgently like to see research conducted into the benefits of virtual appointments, with a view to unveiling best practice that can be rolled out across the NHS, whilst taking into account that telemedicine is not suitable for everyone. A recent global survey of more than 7000 people with type 1 diabetes from 89 countries has shown that three quarters of respondents who have used telemedicine due to the pandemic would consider continuing their use of it afterwards.
Options also need to be in place for those who don’t have access to the equipment or private space required to participate in a virtual appointment, whether that be a smart phone, computer or the ability to upload their data in advance. Good quality, up to date IT equipment also needs to be available for clinicians to be able to conduct the virtual appointments, as well as training for clinicians in how to conduct a good consultation via telephone or video call.