Recent results from a UPMC virtual diabetes study showed 75 percent of patients saw their condition improve.
Researchers launched a virtual diabetes boot camp in September 2020, recruiting 100 patients from 50 primary care clinics in the UPMC Central Pennsylvania network to complete the 12-week program. The study was published by the National Library of Medicine.
The program included education, nutrition counseling, planned exercise as well as meditation. Patients would virtually meet every week with a healthcare professional for 30 minutes to examine their glucose levels, diet and exercise regime.
After the three-month program, 75 percent of the diabetes patients saw an improvement in their condition. The researchers concluded the relatively short length of the program and frequent virtual check-ins aided with adherence and motivation throughout. The researchers also credited the program's telehealth format with increasing communication between providers and decreasing the burden for providers.