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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Endocrinol.
Sec. Pediatric Endocrinology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1513166

The Impact of Telemedicine on Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Management: Benefits, Challenges, and Future Directions

Provisionally accepted
Susanna Maria Roberta Esposito Susanna Maria Roberta Esposito 1*Vanessa Sambati Vanessa Sambati 2Federica Fogliazza Federica Fogliazza 2Maria Elisabeth Street Maria Elisabeth Street 2Nicola Principi Nicola Principi 3
  • 1 Clinica Pediatrica, Ospedale Universitario di Parma, Parma, Italy
  • 2 University of Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
  • 3 University of Milan, Milan, Lombardy, Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Telemedicine (TM) has emerged as a valuable tool in managing pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D), particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when traditional in-person visits were limited. This narrative review examines the impact of TM on patient-provider relationships, glycemic control, and overall diabetes management in children and adolescents with T1D. Studies consistently demonstrate high levels of patient and provider satisfaction with TM, citing increased consultation frequency, reduced travel burdens, and lower associated costs. However, results regarding the effect of TM on glycemic control, as measured by HbA1c levels, are inconsistent. Some studies show significant reductions in HbA1c levels with TM use, while others report outcomes comparable to or less effective than traditional care. The effectiveness of TM also appears to be influenced by the concurrent use of advanced diabetes technologies, such as continuous glucose monitors and automated insulin delivery systems. Furthermore, TM's impact on quality of life and other clinical outcomes beyond glucose management remains underexplored. Methodological limitations, including inconsistent randomization strategies and lack of long-term follow-up, hinder definitive conclusions. Despite these uncertainties, TM offers several advantages, such as improved accessibility and patient engagement, which may justify its broader implementation. Future research should focus on optimizing TM approaches to enhance glycemic control and quality of life, identifying the most effective strategies for specific patient groups, and addressing technological and economic barriers. This review highlights the need for comprehensive, long-term studies to fully understand TM's potential in pediatric T1D management and its integration into standard care practices.

    Keywords: eHealth, pediatric diabetes, Digital health technologies, Remote healthcare, Telemedicine, type 1 diabetes

    Received: 18 Oct 2024; Accepted: 02 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Esposito, Sambati, Fogliazza, Street and Principi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Susanna Maria Roberta Esposito, Clinica Pediatrica, Ospedale Universitario di Parma, Parma, Italy

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.