Clouds and Silver Linings: COVID-19 Pandemic Is an Opportune Moment to Democratize Diabetes Care Through Telehealth

Introduction

One unforeseen consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the dramatic acceleration in the use of a range of technologies (referred to herein generally as telehealth encompassing medical and remote monitoring devices with broadband coverage) to deliver remote diabetes care. For some, telehealth may represent a simple switch from a face-to-face consultation to one that takes place through video-telephone systems. However, with the opportunities for data sharing from wearable and other devices as part of the new digital diabetes ecosystem, there are opportunities to improve efficiencies, to redesign care delivery, and to optimize the use of new telehealth billing codes. The concern is that many people with diabetes, already lacking digital access and digital literacy, will be left even further behind in the remote delivery of diabetes care as telehealth becomes mainstream.

Telehealth Is Having A Good Pandemic

The rapid move from traditional care delivery to the majority of consultations taking place through telehealth has been notable for the speed of implementation and for acceptability by clinicians. Although the use of existing wearable technologies to generate data is not an absolute requirement, having access to timely and accurate diabetes and other related health data is likely to facilitate better outcomes associated with telehealth. ¹ With the current pandemic, there is also a need to maintain optimized glucose management as a protection against poor outcomes associated with COVID-19. ² Optimal glucose management is more likely to be achieved using telehealth that includes technologies that provide opportunities for data sharing, such as Bluetooth-enabled blood glucose monitoring systems, digital blood pressure measuring devices, electronic scales, personal continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and potentially, smart insulin pens. Using these tools with “integrated” and “connected” cloud-based data and analysis platforms will create digital diabetes ecosystems capable of managing individuals as well as large populations of people with diabetes.^3,4

There is evidence already that technology-based Diabetes Self-Management Education Support (DSMES) services, including remote monitoring can be effective.^5,6 Prior to COVID-19, people with diabetes were receiving, at best, episodic (every three to six months) visits with clinicians; this rarely included DSMES or Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services delivered by accredited programs ⁷ or credentialed clinicians. ⁸ Already telehealth appears to be associated with improved diabetes management and quality of life measures prior to^5,6,9 and during the pandemic.^10,11 This was, in part, facilitated by the implementation of a series of flexibilities and waivers by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow clinicians to deliver diabetes care, including DSMES and MNT, using various modes of telehealth.^12,13 Additional changes, though not permanent at this time, have been made to several requirements for individuals to obtain some diabetes technologies, such as a personal CGM. ¹² In addition, diabetes technology companies are documenting the successful provision of remote device trainings to people who are transitioning to or need support using their products. ¹⁴

However, creating a robust and effective telehealth system that is also equitable remains challenging. This is often because of the impact of external factors and the ripple effect of other intractable societal problems. ¹⁵

Who Is Not in Line for Telehealth?

Achieving effective behavior management and psychological well-being is a “foundational” management goal for people with diabetes irrespective of their race or ethnicity. ⁹ For telehealth to be successful, it is important that all people have access to the technology required for virtual visits. Currently in the United States, one in four Medicare beneficiaries lack digital access. ¹⁶ Also, although evidence exists that people with diabetes can achieve clinical benefits through the consistent utilization of DSMES and MNT,^8,9 and that these services are covered by Medicare, referral to these services is extremely low.^7,8 Numerous reasons exist for low utilization, including lack of knowledge of, and referral to these services by primary care providers, lack of appreciation of the services’ potential effectiveness, inconvenient locations or appointment times, or limited access. ⁸ Data from the 2018 Mapping Medicare Disparities show overall use of MNT is low with lower access for Blacks in some areas of the United States. In contrast, for DSMES (referred to as Diabetes Self-Management Training [DSMT] by the CMS) utilization, Blacks appear to have greater access than whites. ¹⁷

People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) currently using personal CGM and insulin pump therapy are predominantly female, white, with health insurance, and a high level of education.^18,19 In T1D, there are existing disparities in health outcomes related to the ability to access diabetes technologies and the long-term trajectory of HbA_1c levels, which are less favorable for racial minorities. ²⁰ Whether this is due to implicit bias when clinicians are considering offering diabetes technologies to certain groups is not known, but there is evidence that clinicians exhibit the same levels of implicit bias as the wider population. ²¹ In T1D, therefore, existing real-world as well as clinical trial data for diabetes-related technologies are limited to specific cohorts, excluding those who are not offered these technologies, do not prefer to use them, or cannot obtain access to them. ²²

Similarly, technology-based interventions for type 2 diabetes (T2D) have also had limited reach to racial and ethnic minorities. ²³ Though implicit bias in clinician decision-making may be unintended, research suggests that these biases may contribute to various healthcare disparities. ²⁴ Overall, it is not completely clear whether biases in access to, prescribing, and utilization of diabetes technologies are a consequence of erroneous assumptions by providers and researchers or due to systemic racism. ²⁰

It is also noteworthy that, in the United States, the proportion of clinicians providing diabetes care does not reflect the disproportionate burden of diabetes among minority populations. For example, rates of T2D, achieved HBA_1c levels, and the frequency of serious complications, including end-stage renal failure, are more common in Blacks and Hispanic/Latino adults than in non-Hispanic Whites. In 2018, only 5%-8% of primary care and internal medicine physicians identified as Black or Hispanic/Latino. ²⁵

Democratizing Diabetes Care With Telehealth

The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified existing health inequities for minority racial and ethnic populations and individuals who have experienced health disparities. Telehealth has the potential to catapult the progress toward democratization of diabetes care with the aim of improving and achieving equitable access to care. To achieve this, there is an immediate imperative to identify and develop technologies suitable for delivering care using telehealth, which are:

For new technologies to be suitable for telehealth, this will also require user input representing all communities during the design and development phases to make the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) culturally appropriate, understandable, sticky, and of value. There is also an opportunity for currently underutilized Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (formerly referred to as diabetes educators) to play a larger role in expanding access to evidence-based remote care and education using telehalth^8,26,27 At a wider level, increasing the diversity of clinicians, improving healthcare coverage, and reorganizing the clinical workflow to transition to deliver more needs-based care and management with a move away from routine appointments may also add value.

The diabetes community, from clinicians to people with diabetes and their caregivers, can advocate for these democratizing changes at a Federal level. Currently, there are myriad efforts by US Federal legislators, advocacy organizations, and well-placed individuals to make telehealth permanent. The proposed legislation in the US Senate, US House of Representatives, as well as executive orders from the current administration present opportunities to modernize healthcare delivery, particularly Medicare. To make these changes permanent requires all stakeholders in diabetes care to advocate for change, and to stay updated on this topic with diabetes-focused organizations, such as the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, ²⁸ the American Diabetes Association, and other organizations focused specifically on these telehealth changes including the Center for Connected Health Policy (https://www.cchpca.org/), American Telehealth Association (https://www.americantelemed.org/), and Alliance for Connected Care (http://connectwithcare.org/). This may include engaging with elected representatives. ²⁹

Conclusion

As we move through the current COVID-19 crisis and emerge on the other side, the diabetes community will have learned valuable lessons about optimally supporting the most vulnerable people with diabetes. These experiences can ultimately improve diabetes care and outcomes for everyone. Going forward, with more frequent and ongoing regular touchpoints conducted using remote technologies, there are opportunities to overcome several of the barriers for accessing care through telehealth. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.