Status of Telemonitoring Services in Diabetes Care in Germany: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) as a chronic disease is a great medical, organizational, and financial burden on the German healthcare system, and it has risen in epidemiological importance. To ensure healthcare against the background of rising prevalence rates and to reduce costs, it makes sense to supplement treatment of diabetes patients with telemedical services. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate telemonitoring services for DM patients in Germany and the political/legal environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A narrative review was conducted to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of the current knowledge on interactive telemonitoring offerings and influencing factors. A total of 19 publications were considered as relevant in the screening process, and were included in the content analysis. RESULTS: The results can be differentiated in terms of political/legal requirements, needs, and supply-related aspects. Only four studies focused on the individual care aspects of telemedical care of DM patients. CONCLUSION: Telemonitoring measures for chronic diseases in general and for DM in particular have hardly been implemented in Germany so far. Based on the deficiencies and research gaps described earlier, some recommendations can be made. There is a need to set up structure for more interactivity, to expand technical infrastructure, and to close legal gaps. More research focusing on clinical effectiveness is necessary.