Using Real-Time Technology to Help Patients Control Type 2 Diabetes

Pictured above is Nola Hopkins, a participant in MedStar Health’s Pathway to Diabetes Control Program

Pathway to Diabetes Control

Nola Hopkins was frustrated. As a diabetic, she struggled to keep her A1C level (which measures her average blood sugar level) under control. She ate the right foods, kept herself active, and took her medications on time every day. But still, her A1C remained high.

“Nothing seemed to be working for me and I just didn’t understand why,” says Hopkins, a 58-year-old Fallston resident. “I was about to give up until my doctor told me about this program that could help me.”

That program, offered by MedStar Health, is Pathway to Diabetes Control, a 12-week intensive “boot camp” that gives diabetes patients the education and hands-on support they need to control their diabetes.

To qualify for the program, a patient must have a history of poorly controlled diabetes—usually an A1C of 9.0 or higher. Most patients are referred by their primary care physician.

It didn’t take long after enrolling in the program for Hopkins to get to the root of her problem—she needed to change medications.

Source: MedStar Health Diabetes Institute

The program has three steps: self-management education, medication adjustment, and real-time blood sugar monitoring.

On the first visit, participants view educational videos on diabetes management, review and learn more about their current medications, and receive a blood glucose monitor that immediately sends their readings via cellular network to an electronic dashboard. This technology gives MedStar Health diabetes educators real-time monitoring of patient progress.

Participants return after one week to review their readings and adjust medications if needed. After that, the remaining visits are conducted via phone, text or email for an additional eight to 10 weeks.

Michelle Magee, MD, director of the MedStar Health Diabetes Institute, recalls one participant who had had normal blood sugar readings for four weeks, then suddenly recorded a spike. A nurse called him right away to find out what may have contributed to his elevated blood sugar. He told her that he was currently drinking sweet tea at a fast-food restaurant.

“This was a great teachable moment to help that patient see exactly what he was doing, so he could start making proper changes to his behavior,” she says.

The program was developed in 2014 at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and it has since expanded to eight additional MedStar Health hospitals. More than 600 diabetes patients have participated in the program so far, and the results are remarkable.

“It’s the only program proven to drop A1C by three percent,” Dr. Magee says, adding that program participants have 75 percent fewer hospitalizations within a 90-day period than their peers. “They look and feel so much better after just a few weeks. It’s really rewarding to see patients gain the education and power to take better care of themselves.”