Narrative Review of Telemedicine in Diabetes Care

Nyakairu Doreen G.

 

Faculty of Science and Technology Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Telemedicine has emerged as a pivotal component of contemporary diabetes care, driven by advances in digital health technologies, evolving healthcare delivery models, and the exigencies of the COVID-19 pandemic. This narrative review examines the foundations, modalities, clinical effectiveness, and implementation considerations of telemedicine in diabetes management. Drawing on evidence from randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and health systems analyses, the review evaluates key telemedicine modalities, including synchronous tele-consultations, asynchronous communication, remote monitoring, and mobile health applications. Findings indicate that telemedicine interventions are associated with improvements in glycemic control, lipid profiles, patient satisfaction, and self-management behaviors across diverse settings, including low- and middle-income countries. Patient experience and engagement are generally favorable, particularly in remote monitoring programs, though variability in adherence and accessibility persists. The review further explores health system integration challenges, equity and digital divide concerns, economic implications, and ethical, legal, and data security considerations. Despite promising outcomes, heterogeneity in study designs, outcome measures, and intervention components limits definitive conclusions regarding long-term effectiveness and cost-efficiency. The review highlights the need for standardized evaluation frameworks, robust economic analyses, and equity-focused implementation strategies to optimize telemedicine’s role in sustainable and patient-centered diabetes care.

Keywords: Telemedicine, Diabetes care, Digital health, Remote monitoring and Health systems

CITE AS: Nyakairu Doreen G.. (2026). Narrative Review of Telemedicine in Diabetes Care. IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 11(1):89-93. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJSR/2026/11.1.8993