TeleHealth improves diabetes self-management in an underserved community: diabetes TeleCare.

Objective: To conduct a 1-year randomized clinical trial to evaluate a remote comprehensive diabetes self-management education (DSME) intervention, Diabetes TeleCare, administered by a dietitian and nurse/certified diabetes educator (CDE) in the setting of a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in rural South Carolina.

Research Design And Methods: Participants were recruited from three member health centers of an FQHC and were randomized to either Diabetes TeleCare, a 12-month, 13-session curriculum delivered using telehealth strategies, or usual care.

Results: Mixed linear regression model results for repeated measures showed a significant reduction in glycated hemoglobin (GHb) in the Diabetes TeleCare group from baseline to 6 and 12 months (9.

A collaborative approach to the recruitment and retention of minority patients with diabetes in rural community health centers.

Context: Recruiting and retaining minorities from rural, community health centers is a challenge. Collaboration between the researchers and health center personnel and activities to enhance trust may improve results.

Purpose: To describe recruitment and retention strategies and report results of a 12-month clinical trial of a telemedicine-based diabetes self-management intervention, conducted within a rural community health center.