Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many doctors started providing care via telemedicine. Now, patients with diabetes can easily reach out to their doctors to help manage their condition with the help of virtual consultations.
According to Dr. Aurora Macaballug, Board Member and Chair of the Advocacy Committee of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (PSEDM), improved patient adherence is a product of improved access to doctors. Patient adherence refers to a patient’s willingness to correctly follow a 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.”
Dr. Aurora Macaballug is Board Member and Chair of the Advocacy Committee of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (PSEDM)
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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Nice Campaign lalo’t maraming case ang mayroon ang Pilipinas.
Very Nice Campaign. Maganda ito para maiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng diabetes.
Sobrang helpful po tlaga ng Telemedicines mamu Lalo na po sa panahon ngayon na may pandemic po tayo. Madami pong benefits ang pagkakaroon ng telemedicines na sobrang helpful po tlaga especially sa mga elderly at mga may sakit. Aside from that, pwede pa rin po natin ma-monitor ang diabetes kahit nasa bahay Lang po. having a balanced diet, exercise, timely medication, and regular check-ups—will increase the chances of patients getting their diabetes under control. And telemedicines offer online consultation Kaya perfect po tlaga. ☺️❤️
Laking tulong po nitong Telemedicine lalo na po sa mga may Diabetes dahil takot din po sila mahawaan ng sakit na nagkalat ngaun.. at dahil na rin po sa pandemya lahat po tayo ay talagang nakaasa ngaun sa virtual consultation para mapamonitor ang mga nararamdaman natin like this Diabetes.
Andami talagang benfits ang Telemedicine,mapapadali ang pagpapa check up kahit Nasa bahay lang ang kagandahan pa nito kahit Nasa province pa ang doctor eh Maka connect siya sa patient kahit Nasa Luzon,very convenient talaga.
so nice nman ang telemedecine easier na ang pagconsult ang ganda dn ng awareness na to pra macontrol ang mga my diabetes
my husband has diabetes and with consultation and some research we manage to control his blood sugar
Ang ganda ponng campaign nila about sa diabetes dapat po talaga aware tayo sa sakit na ito dahil hindi ito basta basta
napaka swerte na ng mga tao ngayon dahil sa mga ganitong proyekto at maging aware sa sakit na diabeties. Nasa pag iingat nalang natin paano iiwasan at paano gagamutin. Madali ng makapag consulta sa mga professional dahil sa Tele Medicine
Napaka helpful talaga ng telemedicine lalo sa panahon ngaun. Hindi mo na kailangan bumyahe ng malayo at pumila ng ilang oras para Lang magpa kunsolta ❤️
Thanks for making this blog momsh this very informative 👍
Napaka laking tulong ng telemedicine sa panahon ngaun. Hindi na kailangan magbyahe ng malayo at pumila ng matagal para maka pag pa check up 😊❤️
Very informative blog,I’ve learned a lot.. thanks po
good thing merong telemedicine.
patients can get consultations without going to the hospitals specially patients with diabetes who needs regular check up.
Wow ok n ok po tlga. Dhil sa pandemic kc po ntatakot ndin lumabas mga tao. Dhil meron telemedicine mas mkakatulong sa mga tao ang mabilisang pag papa check up.. thanks po mamu for sharing🤗
so true that the New Normal also brought something good as well tulad nito mamu hinde lahat kaya magpacheckup with webinars webinars like this yung mga tanong natin about Diabetes or other illnesses can be answered already ng wala kaming binabayaran na consultation fee nanood lang kami natuto na so helpful yes to Telemedicine 👍👍👍👍