Nutritional Management of Diabetes Clients via Telehealth During COVID 19 and Beyond
Covid 19 has accelerated the use of digital technology for healthcare in Australia.
At the start of the pandemic, policy measures were initiated to support health system capacity, protect patients and health care providers from exposure to infection risk , and maintain healthcare.
Diabetes management via telehealth had been on the horizon for a number of years, mostly used in regional areas. Diabetes management consultations include the review of glucose data, and the remote monitoring of glucose and provision of education, and support.
The pandemic forced health care into a new paradigm, and enabled clients a revised way of being supported. It has been stated that a decade of work was made in a week.
This has created benefits and opportunities for access, support and care for clients.
Telehealth includes phone and video – consultations via a secure, encrypted platform. This technology enables screen sharing, and the provision of education and support materials.
Clients can be seen in the comfort and privacy of their home or office. Travel time to get to clinics, factors including child care, time off work, waiting times, etc are no longer a barrier. Appointments can be scheduled during lunch breaks, after hours and on weekends, with less disruption to the day.
Deconstructing Diabetes clients have jumped at this possibility, and because commuting is not a limitation, our service is also seeing rural and interstate clients. Our referrer network has expanded far beyond the local area we were previously servicing.
This service has also enabled more regular support, and we have experienced less cancellations and appointment rescheduling.
Clients are more engaged in their own management. Our service has online pre initial and review consultation questionnaires for lifestyle, habits, dietary behaviour and goals. We have found clients to come to their appointments better prepared, having reflected on their dietary intake and diabetes management.
Telehealth enables a dietitian insights into what’s in a clients kitchen, review shopping lists, food products, etc. This enhances the consultation by better tailoring to the clients real world situation.
Family members and support persons also find it easier to be involved in the consultation.
In the last 2 months I’ve presented at the Australian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) and also the Australasian Diabetes Congress (ADS / ADEA) on the theme of Telehealth and nutritional management of diabetes. Topics covered were the benefits, challenges, tech set up, administrative and practical aspects of changing from bricks and mortar clinics to online.
The experience of using telehealth for the last 1.5 years has expanded the scope of traditional model of nutrition consultations, and enabled new possibilities for using digital health, improving products and services in the future.
We are working on some very exciting projects in the digital space which will further enhance the diabetes management for our clients!
Watch this space for some announcements soon!