In all phases involving the treatment of this chronic non-communicable condition, technology has increasingly gained space, acting from diagnosis to physical and emotional monitoring.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide, characterized by increased blood glucose levels. Effective prevention and treatment play a key role in the management of this global health condition. In this context, telehealth emerges as a valuable tool to improve access to information, diagnosis and treatment, especially considering the complexity and prevalence of the disease.
With the support of technology, it is possible to carry out remote monitoring, virtual consultations, as well as provide education and easy access to information on healthy lifestyle habits, as well as ongoing support for patients, whether to promote adherence to treatment or for psychological and nutritional care.
“The integration of telehealth into diabetes care not only facilitates early detection and monitoring, but also promotes a more comprehensive and accessible approach to treating this condition, helping to improve patients' quality of life and reduce potential complications associated with the disease,” reinforces Michele Alves, executive manager of Saúde Digital Brasil.
Additionally, technology has revolutionized diabetes care by providing more accurate, accessible, and personalized tools. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices provide real-time insight into your glucose levels, healthcare apps and platforms have offered tools for monitoring, data logging, and symptom management, and AI algorithms can be applied to interpret large health-related data sets, helping identify patterns, predict complications, and personalize treatments.
Second Daniele Penalva, an endocrinologist at Starbem, an online healthcare technology company associated with Saúde Digital Brasil, says that telehealth can help in all stages of diabetes care. Whether it's to answer questions the patient may have, facilitate the renewal of a prescription, or even in care, which is crucial, for example, for people who live in more remote areas.
“This access to online care and the specialist’s perspective helps to individualize and personalize treatment and also allows patients to receive guidance on changing habits and lifestyle changes. It helps them put this into practice. There is a whole arsenal of electronic devices connected to cell phones. This is the type of information that the doctor can also receive in real time. This helps with adherence and improving the patient’s treatment parameters,” emphasizes the doctor.
Amparo Saúde, for example, a primary care service of the Sabin Group, a partner of Saúde Digital Brasil, highlights the importance of maintaining specific lines of care for patients with diabetes, which can include, for example, specific assessment forms, recommended exam frequency and health promotion and prevention content.
Alícia Pina, a family nurse in the Care/Quality sector at Amparo Saúde, emphasizes the importance of digital health tools for monitoring these patients. According to her, alerts and reminders are triggered and, to facilitate and speed up the implementation of planned care, the platform provides indicators that must be monitored by the team, to ensure adherence and effectiveness of the proposed treatment.
It is worth noting that World Diabetes Day, celebrated on November 14, is an initiative of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) that aims to raise awareness about diabetes and its implications. The date was chosen in honor of the birthday of Frederick Banting, who, together with Charles Best, conceived the idea that led to the discovery of insulin in 1921.
