Table 3.
Mode of telemedicine, purpose of consult and the individuals involved.
| Mode of telecommunication | Time of communication | Purpose of consult | Individuals involved | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st contact | Phone, or WhatsApp, or Zoom (whichever available) | Real time, audio or video (as per patient comfort) (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) |
Diabetes history, Previous diabetes medicines, Previous diabetes control, Recent insulin regimen Insulin injection technique, SMBG, Maintenance of glucose chart |
Consulting doctor, diabetes educator, patient and attendant(s). |
| 2nd contact (next day) | Phone, WhatsApp, zoom | Real time, audio or video (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) | Inspection of glucose levels Adjustment of insulin dose, Insulin injection technique (reinforcement), Hypoglycemia education |
Diabetes educator, Patient &/or attendant |
| 3rd contact (one day before discharge) | Phone, WhatsApp, zoom | Real time, audio or video (10:00 Am to 2:00 p.m.) | Insulin dose adjustment (needed because of tapering steroids in many patients), Hypoglycemia education |
Consulting physician, Diabetes educator, Patient &/or attendant |
| 4th contact (1 week after discharge) | Phone, WhatsApp, Zoom | Real time, audio or video (10:00 Am to 2:00 p.m.) | Insulin dose adjustment, SMBG, Maintenance of glucose chart |
Consulting physician, diabetes educator, Patient &/or attendant |
| 5th Contact (2 weeks after the discharge) | Phone, WhatsApp, Zoom | Real time, audio or video (10:00 Am to 4:00 p.m.) | Several patients required deprescription of insulin, Oral glucose lowering agents prescribed, Monitoring of glucose scaled down (once or twice a day) |
Consulting physician, Diabetes educator, Patient &/or attendant |
These five contacts were for all patients. Several patients required additional consults in-between, because of rapidly changing steroid doses.