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. 2014 Apr;38(2):134-42.
doi: 10.4093/dmj.2014.38.2.134. Epub 2014 Apr 18.

A randomized controlled trial of an internet-based mentoring program for type 1 diabetes patients with inadequate glycemic control

Sunghwan Suh  1 , Cheol Jean  2 , Mihyun Koo  3 , Sun Young Lee  4 , Min Ja Cho  4 , Kang-Hee Sim  4 , Sang-Man Jin  4 , Ji Cheol Bae  4 , Jae Hyeon Kim  4
Affiliations

A randomized controlled trial of an internet-based mentoring program for type 1 diabetes patients with inadequate glycemic control

Sunghwan Suh et al. Diabetes Metab J. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

Background: To determine whether an internet-based mentoring program can improve glycemic control in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Methods: Subjects with T1DM on intensive insulin therapy and with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥8.0% were randomized to mentored (glucometer transmission with feedback from mentors) or control (glucometer transmission without feedback) groups and were examined for 12 weeks. Five mentors were interviewed and selected, of which two were T1DM patients themselves and three were parents with at least one child diagnosed with T1DM since more than 5 years ago.

Results: A total of 57 T1DM adult subjects with a mean duration after being diagnosed with diabetes of 7.4 years were recruited from Samsung Medical Center. Unfortunately, the mentored group failed to show significant improvements in HbA1c levels or other outcomes, including the quality of life, after completion of the study. However, the mentored group monitored their blood glucose (1.41 vs. 0.30) and logged into our website (http://ubisens.co.kr/) more frequently (20.59 times vs. 5.07 times) than the control group.

Conclusion: A 12-week internet-based mentoring program for T1DM patients with inadequate glycemic control did not prove to be superior to the usual follow-up. However, the noted increase in the subjects' frequency of blood glucose monitoring may lead to clinical benefits.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, type 1; Internet; Mentors.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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