Abstract

BACKGROUND
The internet has been used world wide as a communication tool. To improve the quality of glucose control, the effectiveness of an Internet-based Blood Glucose Monitoring System (IBGMS), on changes in HbA1c levels, was investigated. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized clinical trial, involving 110 patients who had visited outpatient's clinic at the Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital diabetes center for 3 months, was conducted. The study subjects were treated with IBGMS for 12 weeks, with a control group receiving the usual outpatient management for the same period. HbA1C and other laboratory tests were performed at the baseline and at the end of the study. RESULTS: There were no significant differences found between the two groups at the baseline measurements, with respect to age, sex, diabetes duration, body mass index, blood pressure, HbA1C and other laboratory data. In the follow up tests, the study group showed a significant reduction in the HbA1C level, by 7.1% (0.54% absolute, p=0.001), while the control group showed an increased HbA1C level (p=0.054). Moreover, there was an 11.1% reduction (0.92% absolute, p<0.001) in the HbA1C level in the patients with HbA1C levels > or =7.0% at baseline in the study group, but those with HbA1C levels <7.0% maintained good HbA1c levels, 6.32%, by the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: This new IBGMS resulted in a significant reduction in the HbA1C levels during the study period. We propose this IBGMS as a new method for glycemic control.

• Keywords: Internet;Diabetes mellitus;Glucose monitoring system;