Impact of Bluetooth-enabled versus traditional glucometers on glycaemic control in adults with insulin-treated diabetes integrated with telehealth in personalized diabetes management: a randomized controlled trial
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN69173566 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN69173566 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | NTF-SIP_WoW_P1 |
| Sponsor | Tan Tock Seng Hospital |
| Funder | Ng Teng Fong Healthcare Innovation Programme |
- Submission date
- 10/12/2024
- Registration date
- 16/12/2024
- Last edited
- 16/12/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
People with diabetes mellitus (DM) managing newly initiated insulin or requiring intensification of insulin therapy require frequent glucose monitoring and timely insulin adjustments. This study explores whether an integrated telehealth program using Bluetooth-enabled glucometers can enhance glycaemic control and reduce diabetes-related distress compared to traditional glucometers.
Who can participate?
People aged between 21 and 70 years with DM who were on newly initiated insulin or experiencing intensification of insulin therapy for diabetes management from a tertiary hospital.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group (using a Bluetooth-enabled glucometer and mobile phone app) or the control group (using a manual logbook). They answer questionnaires relating to quality of life and distress from diabetes. In total, about 11 ml of blood will be collected for clinical tests, HbA1c and cholesterol levels (lipid panel) requested by the diabetes doctor as part of participants' routine follow-up. Participation in the study will last 22 to 28 weeks. Participants will be expected to perform structured self-monitoring of blood glucose based on their insulin regime throughout the study period. Participants will need to visit the doctor’s office two times in the course of the study and will receive phone consultations every 2 weeks for 3 sessions.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits include having closer monitoring and analysis of self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) by a diabetes nurse, and closer titration of insulin therapy to achieve targets. Possible risks include technical error, where SMBG readings are not transferred to the mobile phone app (for participants in the intervention group). Participants in the intervention group will be using a free, commercially available mobile phone app, which they have to agree to the terms and conditions of the designers of the mobile phone app. There is a risk of privacy breach since participants' information will be stored by the mobile App on an external server. However, there will be no sharing of information between the mobile App company and the hospital.
Where is the study run from?
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Singapore)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
December 2020 to December 2023
Who is funding the study?
Ng Teng Fong Health Innovation Programme (Singapore)
Who is the main contact?
Ms Lian Xia, lian_xia@ttsh.com.sg
Contact information
Public, Principal investigator
11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng
Singapore
308433
Singapore
 ORCID ID |
0009-0004-4819-7444 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +65 (0)63571000 |
| lian_xia@ttsh.com.sg |
Scientific
11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng
Singapore
308433
Singapore
| ORCID ID |
0000-0003-2997-5760 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +65 (0)6256 6011 |
| isaac_jun_song_tan@ttsh.com.sg |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single-centre two-armed open-labelled parallel randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Participant information sheet | 46531 Informed Consent Form (ICF) v7 11Mar2022.pdf |
| Scientific title | Effectiveness of a Bluetooth-enabled glucometer which automatically syncs blood glucose readings to a mobile app, on adults with diabetes mellitus for glycaemic control (HbA1c), diabetes-related distress, satisfaction and cardiometabolic parameters, as compared to using a traditional glucometer |
| Study acronym | IT-PDM |
| Study objectives | Bluetooth-enabled glucometers improve glycaemic control in adults with diabetes mellitus as compared to traditional glucometers. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 15/10/2021, National Healthcare Group Domain Specific Review Board (NHG DSRB) (3 Fusionopolis Link #03-08 Nexus@one-north, Singapore, 138543, Singapore; +65 (0)64966600; OHRPP@nhg.com.sg), ref: 2021/00644 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| Intervention | This interventional study was a 6-month, single-centre, two-armed, open-labelled parallel randomized controlled trial, where participants with diabetes mellitus newly started on insulin or requiring intensification of insulin therapy were assigned to either the intervention group or control group via a 2:2 ratio using a computer-generated randomization sequence with variable block sizes of 4, overseen by a statistician who was independent of the clinical team to maintain allocation concealment The intervention group used a Bluetooth-enabled glucometer (ACCU-CHECK Instant) that automatically syncs blood glucose readings to a mobile app (MySugr), while the control group used a standard glucometer (ACCU-CHECK Performa) and manually logged blood glucose readings in a physical logbook. |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | ACCU-CHECK Instant Meter, ACCU-CHECK Performa |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Glycaemic control is measured via glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) at baseline, week 12 and week 24 |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Cardiometabolic parameters measured via Low-Density Lipoprotein (Measured) (LDL-M), weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and blood pressure at baseline, week 12 and week 24 |
| Completion date | 29/12/2023 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 21 Years |
| Upper age limit | 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 120 |
| Total final enrolment | 120 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Patients with diabetes mellitus and on insulin treatment, which is being newly-initiated or require significant dose adjustment 2. Patients of a tertiary hospital in Singapore (Tan Tock Seng Hospital) during their inpatient stay or routine outpatient clinic visits for diabetes management 3. Patients aged between 21 and 70 years old |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Severe comorbid conditions 2. Pregnancy 3. Cognitive impairments 4. Unable to comply with the study procedures or provide informed consent |
| Date of first enrolment | 21/02/2022 |
| Date of final enrolment | 16/06/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Singapore
Study participating centre
Singapore
308433
Singapore
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Published as a supplement to the results publication |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study will be published as a supplement to the results publication. Datasets include analyses of participants' cardiometabolic parameters, distress (PAID) and satisfaction measures (GMSS) using an intention-to-treat approach. Data will be analysed by paired t-test results for within-group changes, mixed-effects models for effects over time, and simple linear regression for effects across subgroups. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | version 7 | 11/03/2022 | 16/12/2024 | No | Yes |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Additional files
- 46531 Informed Consent Form (ICF) v7 11Mar2022.pdf
- Participant information sheet
Editorial Notes
10/12/2024: Study's existence confirmed by the National Healthcare Group Domain Specific Review Board (NHG DSRB).
