Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2025 Dec 16;16:1724811. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1724811. eCollection 2025.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Blood glucose self-monitoring is crucial for individuals with diabetes mellitus and on insulin therapy to ensure safe glycemic control and optimal treatment outcomes. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Bluetooth-enabled glucometers (BTG) versus Traditional glucometers (TG) in a telehealth insulin titration program for individuals with diabetes.
METHODS: This 24-week, open-label, randomized controlled trial enrolled 120 participants with diabetes from a tertiary hospital. Participants, aged 21-70 years, who required either insulin initiation or intensification were randomly assigned to either the BTG or TG group. Both groups received three biweekly teleconsultations with Diabetes Nurse Educators for insulin dose adjustments, followed by two clinic visits at three-month intervals.
RESULTS: Participants were predominantly male, Chinese, and diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) throughout the study. The TG group achieved HbA1c reductions of 2.8% at Week 12 and 3.1% at Week 24 (both p < 0.001), while the BTG group showed reductions of 2.23% and 2.18% respectively (both p < 0.001). There were no significant between-group differences in HbA1c at any time point. However, the BTG group showed significantly fewer emergency department visits than TG (4.1% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.039). Both groups demonstrated improvements in diabetes-related distress, with no significant differences between groups.
CONCLUSION: BTG did not demonstrate glycemic superiority over TG in telehealth insulin titration; however, its association with reduced emergency department visits suggests potential benefits for healthcare utilization. Future studies should investigate the integration of BTG with comprehensive diabetes care platforms, with a focus on long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN69173566, Identifier: ISRCTN69173566.
PMID:41476921 | PMC:PMC12747901 | DOI:10.3389/fendo.2025.1724811
