EFFECT OF ONLINE COUNSELLING TRIGGERED BY REAL-TIME SELF-MONITORING BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS IN INDIAN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

ABSTRACT

Background and Aims: The COVID 19 lockdown imposed with rigid restriction to all outdoor activities, diabetes mellitus (DM) patients visiting clinics, leading to poor glycaemic management. This study aims to understand the effectiveness of telephonic counselling with balanced nutrition, physical activity & stress management on overall glycaemia in Indian patients. Methods: In a retrospective, multi-centric study, medical records of uncontrolled DM patients digitally engaged with a smartphone-connected glucometer (SCG) who also received at least one counselling session between 25th March 2020 to 24th March 2020 (∼90 days) were assessed. The intervention included self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) using SCG enabled with real-time transmission of information to BeatO's certified diabetes educators (CDE) & their corresponding counselling. Results: 4714 adults (average BG >140 mg/dl) included in this study received at least one session of counselling. The mean age of the subjects (78.2% males) was 52.8 years, BMI of 27.3 kg/m2 and 0.5% suffered with co-morbidities. Digital monitoring of BG and counselling with CDE significantly reduced the average BG levels by 16.1%, average HbA1C levels from 8.1 to 7.0 (1.1%), average premeal BG values (157.7 ± 79 to 130.2 ± 77.4 mg/dL, 18% reduction;p < 0.0001) and post meal values (162.0 ± 79.7 to 133.7 ± 70.9 mg/dL, 17.9% reduction;p < 0.0001). Majority 93.8% showed no hypoglycaemic episodes (BG <70 mg/dL) and those in fasting, pre meal and post meal periods reduced by 81.6%, 72.5% & 67.9% respectively, post counselling. Conclusions: BeatO's real time SMBG triggered CDE counselling effectively controlled overall hyperglycaemia & maintained a good target-in-range glucose levels in diabetes subjects during lockdown.