Technology can assist provide more supportive, efficient and effective look after diabetes, a significant contributor to heart disease.
About one in 11 adults on this country has diabetes — a chronic, costly condition closely linked to heart disease. Lifestyle changes that encourage maintaining a healthy diet foods, exercising, and reducing weight are the cornerstones of managing each problems. But making these changes can often feel overwhelming and frustrating, especially for individuals with diabetes. They also need to watch their blood sugar levels, that are affected by their eating regimen and exercise.
In addition, diabetes treatment guidelines mostly concentrate on drugs, that are very expensive. People with diabetes often take three to 5 oral medications, and a few even need insulin to manage their blood sugar. “But if we give people the support they need to lose weight through lifestyle changes, we can manage their disease much more effectively with less medication,” says Dr. Hamdi.
A high-tech fix?
The key's using the newest technology, which might make life easier for each patients and their physicians. This model relies on telemedicine to create a “virtual diabetes clinic,” explains Dr. Hamdi. A pilot program he launched in Joslin, called Joslin Home, centers around short, frequent visits with a health care provider — all delivered live but via smartphone, tablet. , or by computer. The beauty of virtual visits is which you could do them anywhere—at home or wherever you occur to be. No have to cut off half of your day to drive through traffic, park, wait for a physician's appointment, and drive home.
Appointments are scheduled each one to 2 weeks and will be with anyone on the diabetes care team: a physician, nurse practitioner, diabetes educator, exercise physiologist, or behavioral therapist. They last only five to 10 minutes and concentrate on five questions:
- What is your blood sugar?
- Are you following your eating regimen plan?
- Are you following your exercise plan?
- Are you taking your medication?
- What do you wish from this visit?
The tools you would like
“We send people a blood glucose meter to test their blood sugar, and they send the result to a cloud-based server for the doctor to see. If the result isn't included, it's an automated blood glucose meter. Triggers a reminder. Check,” says Dr. Hamdi. A smartphone app provides this feature, together with an in depth lifestyle intervention plan. For example, there's an animation that demonstrates exercises and shows you what healthy eating looks like. You can even use the app to speak directly along with your pharmacy to schedule medication refills.
The app is predicated on the Why WAIT (Weight Gain and Intensive Treatment) program developed at Joslin, which is predicated on 12 years of published evidence and has helped tons of of individuals shed pounds and manage their diabetes. Is. The interface was developed by designers from two major entertainment firms, Warner Bros. and Pixar.
What is HbA1c?The hemoglobin A1c test (also called the HbA1c or simply the A1c test) is a measure of an individual's average blood sugar over a period of about three months. Reading means:
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Advice and accountability
Dr. Hamdi says people need uncomplicated advice and numerous motivation to shed pounds and keep it off. Extreme versions of any eating regimen — low-carb, low-fat, or low-calorie — are just too restrictive; People just can't persist with these eating habits in the long term. “We provide menus that include typical foods that people eat every day but reduce carbohydrates and increase protein and control portions,” he explains.
An exercise program is tailored to an individual's individual needs, but a sample regimen includes stretching for 10 minutes within the morning, brisk walking for 10 minutes after lunch, and using resistance bands within the evening. Includes 10 minutes of strength exercises.
Frequent checks with providers help hold people accountable. Just such as you brush your teeth before seeing your dentist, you're more prone to persist with your healthy habits when you know someone is watching your blood sugar results. In fact, individuals with diabetes are more motivated than people who find themselves simply chubby, says Dr. Hamdi, because they'll see immediate changes of their blood sugar related to lifestyle changes. are
However, in case your progress is slow at first, there is no such thing as a blame or guilt. “We just keep encouraging them and believing that they will see results. When they do, they stick with the program,” he says.
In 4 months, people following the Why WAIT program lose a mean of seven.7 kilos, and their HbA1c levels drop by a mean of 0.7 points, says Dr. Hamdi (see “What is HbA1c?”). If you may lose 7% of your body weight and maintain that loss for a 12 months, your diabetes treatment costs are reduced by 44%.
Right now, the WhyWAIT app (see www.healthimation.com) offers a one-week free trial. After that, it costs $49.99 per thirty days for the primary three months, then $10 per thirty days after that. Unlike typical weight reduction apps, meal and exercise plans are based on an individualized and holistic assessment of the user. But it doesn't include access to a healthcare skilled.
The payment model for the complete Joslin Home program — including real-time virtual visits with health care providers and blood sugar monitoring — remains to be a piece in progress. But Dr. Hamdi is currently in talks with one in all the country's largest medical health insurance firms to search out ways to supply the plan to its members.
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