Preventing and Managing Diabetes with Telehealth

In Minnesota, telehealth has been successful in helping prevent diabetes in adults at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and providing support for people with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that can have serious consequences and become costly to treat.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), an evidence-based lifestyle change program supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been shown to help adults lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%. The program uses trained lifestyle coaches to support participants to make positive lifestyle changes such as eating healthier, reducing stress, and getting more physical activity. The National DPP is offered by many health care and community-based organizations throughout the state. To find a program near you, visit CDC Diabetes Prevention Program Registry.

Before 2020, National DPP was almost completely in-person, but the expansion to distance learning (i.e., telehealth) during the COVID-19 pandemic has expanded access, especially for seniors and Minnesotans in rural communities. Distance learning allows participants from all over the state to learn information by joining a video conference or telephone call.

For people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes or who have changed their treatment plans, there are several evidence-based programs to educate and support them, including the Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program. Most of these programs are run by a clinic or hospital and are usually covered by insurance.

Many DSMES programs were using telehealth prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but since the pandemic, access has increased. Not only did the types of health care providers who can be reimbursed as educators expand, but regulations as to where the participant could be physically located were lifted to allow access to telehealth services from any location. Because a person with diabetes spends an estimated 1% of their life with their health care professional, diabetes management decisions largely fall on the person with diabetes or their caregivers. Having the DSMES program and support offered through the program available via telehealth is beneficial to patients who are self-managing their treatment plans. Most hospitals and clinics can assist program participants with telehealth technology.

Diabetes educators can be based anywhere in the state to provide both in-person and virtual support to participants. Telehealth also supports culturally congruent care by connecting patients with educators who speak the same language. Finally, telehealth may help to extend the reach of this program, particularly in regions where DSMES and NDPP have not been available.

*The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) receives funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase access and participation in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) and the Diabetes Management Education and Support (DSMES) program.

This has been adapted from the Study of Telehealth Expansion and Payment Parity: Final Report to the Minnesota Legislature 2024 (PDF).