Virtual Endocrinology Care Emphasizing Data-Driven Insights and Continuous Engagement and Its Impact on Glycemic Outcomes in Patients With Uncontrolled Diabetes: A Real-world Retrospective Case Series

BACKGROUND: Steady Health’s novel virtual care model incorporates continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and a multidisciplinary approach to timely person-centered diabetes care. OBJECTIVE: This real-world retrospective case series explores the early glycemic outcomes of its patients with uncontrolled diabetes. METHODS: All patients of Steady Health who had an initial time in range (TIR) below 70% from their first 4 weeks of available CGM data and who had completed onboarding by February 2021 were included in this analysis. We compared the change in TIR, time below range, and average blood glucose from their first 4 weeks with their latest 4 weeks of available CGM data. Hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) values at baseline and at the end of the study were also compared. Patients completed a questionnaire assessing their satisfaction with Steady Health’s intervention. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients (n=35, 66% with type 1 diabetes; n=44, 83% treated with insulin) were included in this analysis. This cohort had a median baseline TIR of 53.0% (IQR 40.9%, 61.7%) and saw a median change in TIR of +16.6% (IQR +6.0%, +27.9%; P<.001) over a median duration of care of 11 months, amounting to nearly 4 more hours spent between 70 to 180 mg/dL a day. Of the 27 patients who had both baseline and follow-up HbA(1c) results, their median baseline HbA(1c) was 8.6% (IQR 7.5%, 11.4%; 70 mmol/mol), while their median change in HbA(1c) was –1.2% (IQR –2.6%, –0.2%; P=.001). Importantly, these glycemic improvements were achieved with a median decrease in the time below range by –0.3% (IQR –1.1%, 0.0%; P<.001), regardless of whether patients were started on an automated insulin delivery system. A total of 40 (75.5%) patients improved TIR by ≥5%, and 27 (50.9%) achieved TIR≥70% by the end of the study. Glycemic improvements were greatest among patients with the lowest baseline TIR and those who collaborated most intensively with Steady Health’s clinicians. A total of 25 of these patients responded to a questionnaire assessing levels of satisfaction with their care, and all of them agreed that Steady Health had a positive impact on their diabetes management. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that patients with uncontrolled diabetes can achieve significant glycemic improvements by working with a virtual multidisciplinary care team that uses CGM to provide continuous clinical feedback and support.