Randomized Trial of Telemedicine for Diabetes Care

The project is designed as a randomized controlled trial with approximately 750 subjects receiving a telemedicine intervention and approximately 750 receiving usual care. Eligibility requires having diabetes, being a Medicare beneficiary, and living in a medically underserved area. The project is conducted in New York City, in northern Manhattan (urban component), and in rural upstate New York through a consortion of participating institutions based at the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University at Syracuse (rural component). Subjects are randomized to receive telemedicine case management or usual care for diabetes. The intervention utilizes a home telemedicine unit (HTU). The HTU is a specially designed, web-enabled device with a data port connected to a home glucometer and home blood pressure cuff whereby measurements obtained with these devices can be directly uploaded to a computer database. A diabetes nurse case manager interacts regularly with intervention participants through videoconference via the HTU.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 55 years or greater
• Being a current Medicare beneficiary (verified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
• Having diabetes mellitus as defined by a physician's diagnosis and being on treatment with diet, an oral hypoglycemic agent, or insulin
• Residence in a federally designated medically underserved area (either of two federal designations, Medically Underserved Area [MUA] or Health Manpower Shortage Area [HPSA]) in New York Sate
• Fluency in either English or Spanish

Exclusion criteria

• Moderate or severe cognitive, visual, or physical impairment
• The presence of severe co-morbid disease.