Effect of Telephone-Delivered Interventions on Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Glargine Insulin

Background:Telephone-delivered intervention can provide support in diabetes self-management to improve glycemic control. eStar((R)) program is a telephone support platform for type 2 diabetes on glargine insulin treatment. Its objective is to help patients to perform insulin titration to reach target fasting blood glucose levels. Patients are contacted by trained nurses on a regular basis to adjust the basal insulin dose and reinforce the diabetes education. This study aimed to evaluate if eStar program was effective in helping patients reach their optimal insulin glargine dose within 6 months.Materials and Methods:An observational prospective study was conducted with type 2 diabetes patients who were initiating insulin glargine or requiring dose titration and were eligible to be included in the eStar program. Those participants who followed the program comprised the intervention group, while those who discontinued, the control group. The primary outcome was to evaluate if this program was effective in helping patients reach their optimal insulin glargine dose within 6 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1C)), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin dose, and body mass index after 6 months.Results:A total of 228 subjects [intervention group, 143 (62.7%); control group, 85 (37.3%)] were included in the study. A significantly greater percentage of patients in the intervention group reached their optimal glargine dose than in the control group (83.8% vs. 31.5%; p < 0.001). After 6 months, significant reductions in mean HbA(1C) levels were observed in both groups: 1.49% (p < 0.001) for the intervention group and 1.08% (p < 0.001) for the control group. Furthermore, a mean reduction in FPG between group was achieved (34.96mg/dL; p < 0.001).Conclusions:The eStar program is an effective way to help patients reach their optimal insulin glargine dose, besides improving their glycemic control.