Del Prato 2012.

Study characteristics
Methods	Telecare provides comparable efficacy to conventional self‐monitored blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes titrating one injection of insulin glulisine‐the ELEONOR Study Patient RCT, an Italian, multi‐centre, parallel‐group RCT, Italy Two arms: 1. Self‐monitored blood glucose (control arm) and 2. Telecare (intervention arm)
Participants	Control arm N: 149 Intervention arm N: 142 Diabetes type: type 2 Mean age: NR ± NR % Male: NR Longest follow‐up: 11.5 months
Interventions	Control arm: 1) Facilitated relay of clinical information 2) Promotion of self‐management Intervention arm: 1) Facilitated relay of clinical information 2) Promotion of self‐management
Outcomes	1) HbA1c, mean % (SD) Control arm: pre 8.9 (1.0), post 8.2 (0.8) Intervention arm: pre 8.8 (0.9), post 8.1 (0.8)
Funding source	This study was supported by Sanofi‐Aventis
Notes	—
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not described.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not described.
Patient's baseline characteristics (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Quote: "Patient characteristics at screening were comparable in the telecare and conventional Self‐Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) groups." but not in table.
Patient's baseline outcomes (selection bias)	Low risk	Quote: "Patient characteristics at screening were comparable in the telecare and conventional Self‐Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) groups."
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)	High risk	Not a true intention‐to‐treat analysis (despite being stated, since they had criteria on what was considered an intention‐to‐treat analysis: i.e. had to have at least one follow‐up value, etc.). Numbers and reasons for loss to follow‐up were provided and seem balanced. Baseline based on those analysed.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) and of outcome assessors (detection bias)	Unclear risk	Blinding of patients or outcome assessors was not described. HbA1c methods not described.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Checked protocol and everything matches.
Risk of contamination (other bias)	Low risk	Information not available.
Other bias	Low risk	No evidence of other bias