[Sticky] Diabetes

Yes — diabetes medication management is commonly managed through telemedicine for many patients, especially when glucose levels are reasonably stable and you can share readings from home.

Telehealth can work well for:

• Reviewing glucose logs or CGM data

• Adjusting oral diabetes medications

• Insulin titration in stable patients

• Reviewing side effects or adherence issues

• Refilling medications

• Ordering or reviewing labs (A1C, kidney function, lipids)

• Discussing lifestyle and nutrition changes

• Ongoing monitoring and care coordination

Many clinics ask patients to share:

• Recent blood glucose or CGM trends

• Timing of readings (fasting, before bed, post-meal)

• Current medication list + doses

• Recent A1C (if available)

What diabetes care is typically appropriate for telemedicine

✔ Type 2 diabetes follow-ups
✔ Stable Type 1 diabetes follow-ups (with CGM or good logs)
✔ Medication review or dose adjustments
✔ New side effects or tolerance issues
✔ Metformin / GLP-1 / SGLT-2 / sulfonylurea monitoring
✔ Basal insulin titration (stable patients)
✔ Education and lifestyle counseling

Providers can also:

• Order labs or urine microalbumin

• Refer to nutrition or endocrinology

• Arrange in-person exams when needed

When an in-person evaluation is usually recommended

Seek in-person or urgent care if you have:

• Very high sugars (often >300–350 mg/dL) or ketones

• Symptoms of DKA (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid breathing, confusion)

• Frequent hypoglycemia or severe lows

• New vision changes, foot wounds, or infections

• Pregnancy-related diabetes

• No reliable glucose readings available

Yearly in-person checks are still important for:

• eye exam

• foot exam

• blood pressure & weight

• labs and complication screening

Tips to prepare for a diabetes telehealth visit

Have ready:

• 1–2 weeks of glucose readings or CGM report

• List of medications and doses

• Diet / activity changes

• Any symptoms or low-sugar episodes

Take a recent fasting reading the day of the visit if you can.