Educating patients on carbohydrate counting: efficiency of distance support in type 1 diabetes

Due to the current historical moment, implementing technological systems has become a imperative. Niguarda Hospital in Milan dedicated an area of its official web site to a new educational course about carbohydrate counting. The project is mainly addressed to individuals with diabetes mellitus. The aim is to deliver a systematic support and a accurate educating intervention, permanently and gratuitously available. The project started in July 2020. Clinicians and healthcare professionals from Niguarda Hospital Diabetes Division recorded a number of 14 educational videos, that will be extended. The educational videos are focused on scientific subjects that are essential in daily life of people with diabetes and their caregivers, and discuss various different topics: from adequate nutrition concepts to general principles of insulin therapy, from carbohydrates classification to insulin sensitivity factor and insulin/carbohydrate ratio explanation. Outcomes related to tele-education effectiveness will be evaluated through two dietary-knowledge questionnaires and one satisfaction questionnaire, available on the same web page. Remote education allows to break down physical, economic and organizational barriers. It strengthens and supports each individual’s path, encouraging them to enhance self-management skills, and therefore their disease progression. Digital health is increasingly becoming part of our everyday life, allowing us to achieve a shared purpose of all those who deal with diabetes: improving their quality of life. KEY WORDS diabetes mellitus; CHO counting; telemedicine; remote education; nutrition.