Taking Control of Diabetes just got Easier with Telemedicine
According
to Dr. Aurora Macaballug, Board Member and Chair of the Advocacy Committee of
the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PSEDM), the
improved patient adherence is a product of improved access to doctors. Patient
adherence refers to a patient’s willingness to correctly follow medical
prescription for the benefit of his or her own health.
“When we thought of digital technology in the healthcare sector pre-pandemic, we probably thought of electronic records management,” she said. “But now, digital technology has expanded its role and function in our practice. We are able to extend our clinic hours and reach patients who can’t go physically to the clinic, and of course patients are able to search for us online as well.”
Patient
Adherence Powered by Convenience
Diabetes
is a chronic and lifetime disease. Taking control of the disease is largely
dependent on the patient’s adherence to their medications and their doctor’s
advice. According to PSEDM, having a balanced diet, exercise, timely
medication, and regular check-ups—will increase the chances of patients getting
their diabetes under control.
“Because
of the convenience of telemedicine, we’ve seen notable improvements in patient
adherence,” said Dr. Macaballug. She highlights four key benefits of
telemedicine that promote patient adherence:
- Easy access to doctors. Proximity is no longer a barrier when it comes to seeing a doctor. Telemedicine has effectively expanded the doctor-patient communication where a doctor from Visayas can connect with a patient from Luzon.
- Time saved. No more waiting for clinic days, and no more commuting through heavy traffic just to get a check-up.
- Quick and timely access to reliable information. Most patients turn to Google for on-demand medical advice. Telemedicine almost duplicates that experience and makes it better, allowing for patient-specific and reliable medical advice.
- Quicker feedback loop. Whether it’s for e-prescriptions, or to ask questions, the patients can talk to and hear from doctors more easily. It has become our new clinic.
Dr.
Macaballug is quick to caution however that telemedicine should not be a
replacement for physical consultation but rather, a supplement. “For people
with diabetes, if their sugar is very stable, they can get consultations
online,” she said. “But in cases that are alarming, kung namamanhid, masikip
ang dibdib, o kaya may sugat (numbness, tightness in the chest, or a
wound), that would require us to physically see the patient.”
Beyond
Telemedicine
Diabetes
requires lifestyle changes to manage and control it. That is why education will
continue to play a significant role in helping patients and their caregivers
manage diabetes.
Patients
will more likely follow prescribed treatment consistently when they understand
their condition and take responsibility for their disease.
“The
beauty of telemedicine is that it goes beyond outpatient department
consultations,” said Dr. Macaballug. “It’s also for education. We used to have physical
lay forums for these activities. Because of the pandemic, we transitioned to
lay webinars.”
This
article is part of a series of informative pieces from Kontrolado Ko,
Diabetes Ko, an awareness campaign by MSD in the Philippines that advocates
patient adherence to medication and treatment among people with diabetes in the
Philippines.
The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness among people with diabetes about the importance of making impactful changes to one’s own lifestyle to manage diabetes, and that taking medication as prescribed by their doctors is a vital first step toward better health outcomes.
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