Home telemedicine may improve HbA1c in older adults with type 2 diabetes
Key takeaway:
A 6-month randomized trial found that home telemedicine plus Health Belief Model education improved HbA1c and self-management outcomes in older adults with type 2 diabetes.
Study at a glance
What was studied
A home telemedicine and HBM education program for older adults with type 2 diabetes.
Study type
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
duration
Medium-Term (3–12 mo)
Intervention
Remote Educational Program
Outcomes
HbA1c, Self-management behaviors, Perceived diabetes management competence, Health belief score, Serious adverse events incidence
Funding
Non-industry sponsored
Main effects
HbA1c ↓ more with telemedicine plus HBM education than with routine community management at 6 months
Diabetes self-management behaviors ↑ in the intervention group compared with control
Self-efficacy and health belief scores ↑ more in the intervention group
Evidence Summary
| Intervention | Outcome | Measured Change | Study Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
 Remote Educational Program (Behavioral & Lifestyle) |  HbA1c (Glycemic Control) | Decrease | Mixed |
Remote Educational Program (Behavioral & Lifestyle) |  Health belief score (Patient-Reported) | Increase | Strong |
Remote Educational Program (Behavioral & Lifestyle) | Perceived diabetes management competence (Patient-Reported) | Increase | Strong |
Remote Educational Program (Behavioral & Lifestyle) |  Self-management behaviors (Adherence & Engagement) | Increase | Strong |
Remote Educational Program (Behavioral & Lifestyle) |  Serious adverse events incidence (Safety) | Uncertain | Limited |
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Evidence Suggest
- Participants were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups, with 99 participants in each group.
- The intervention lasted 6 months and included telemedicine smart devices, glucose monitoring, multidisciplinary feedback, and HBM-based education.
- The intervention group had greater improvements in HbA1c, SDSCA, SED, and HBM scores at 6 months.
Who this applies to
Community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older with type 2 diabetes.
Keep in Mind
This was not a medication trial; the intervention was digital monitoring plus education and care-team support.
Between the Lines
- The trial lasted 6 months, so long-term effects are unknown.
- Participants willing to join may have had higher readiness for digital health tools.
- Several secondary outcomes were questionnaire-based and may be affected by recall bias.
- The care providers delivering the intervention were not blinded.
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Journal Reference
Zhang A, Wang J, Wan X, et al. Community-Based Intelligent Blood Glucose Management for Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Based on the Health Belief Model: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2025;13:e60227. doi:10.2196/60227
Connected Evidence
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This study contributes to evidence on Remote Educational Program and HbA1c.
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