(HealthDay)—Among patients with type 1 diabetes and suboptimal glycemic control, replacement of an intermediate face-to-face visit with a telemedicine session did not affect outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Diabetes Care.

Maria S. Ruiz de Adana, M.D., Ph.D., from the Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga in Spain, and colleagues randomly assigned 379 patients with type 1 diabetes and suboptimal metabolic control (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] <8 percent) to three face-to-face visits (control; 167 patients) or the replacement of an intermediate face-to-face visit with a telemedicine visit (intervention; 163 patients). Mean change in HbA1c levels from baseline to month 6 and other efficacy and safety end points were assessed.

The researchers found that at month 6, the mean change in HbA1c levels was −0.04 in the control group and 0.01 in the intervention group. In the two groups, the number of patients who achieved HbA1c <7 percent was 73 and 78, respectively. There were no significant differences noted between the groups regarding safety end points at six months. There were no significant between-group differences in changes in health-related quality of life from the first visit to the final visit. Differences between the groups at baseline with respect to fear of hypoglycemia remained unchanged at follow-up.

“The study allows us to prove the advantages of this innovative care option in the usual follow-up of this specific profile of people with type 1 diabetes and shows that telemedicine may improve patient access to health care and diabetes management in some geographic areas,” the authors write.

The study was funded by Sanofi.