title: Telemedicine in US Army soldiers with type 1 diabetes.
abstract: A retrospective study of a telemedicine clinic for active duty US Army soldiers with type 1 diabetes was conducted. Fifty-one consecutive patients (mean age 33.9 years) were enrolled into the clinic. All soldiers with known or newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes received three weekly office visits for intensive diabetes education. After this, all communication occurred via a messaging system consisting of texting, web-based download, and/or email to a diabetes management team. For urgent matters, 24/7 direct paging or telephone access was provided. Routine adjustments in insulin dosing were accomplished via email. Soldiers were followed for a mean of 17.1 months. Baseline, three-month, and end of study glycated hemoglobin (A1C) values were 9.8, 7.3, and 6.9, respectively. There were no significant differences in end of study A1C levels between patients with known vs. newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, nor were there any differences between those patients who received insulin via pump therapy vs. multiple daily injections. Telemedicine was safe and effective in lowering A1C levels in US Army soldiers with type 1 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA Department of Clinical Investigation, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA young.s.choi.civ@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Y Sammy
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cucura
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Investigation, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA EmpiriStat, Inc., Mount Airy, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Investigation, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Cristobal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berry-Caban
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D008889:Military Personnel; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017216:Telemedicine; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin
keywords: Type 1 diabetes; military; soldiers; telemedicine