Your new experience awaits. Try the new design now and help us make it even better

CLINICAL TRIAL article

Front. Endocrinol., 16 December 2025

Sec. Clinical Diabetes

Volume 16 - 2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2025.1724811

This article is part of the Research TopicDigital Technology in the Management and Prevention of Diabetes: Volume IIIView all 13 articles

Telehealth insulin titration in adults with diabetes: a randomized controlled trial comparing bluetooth-enabled versus traditional glucometers

Xia Lian,*Xia Lian1,2*Hui Ling LiewHui Ling Liew3Ying Shan LeeYing Shan Lee3Anita Ying LinAnita Ying Lin1Eunice Yu Wen GohEunice Yu Wen Goh1Christina Yang Hoon GohChristina Yang Hoon Goh1Hwee Chen QuekHwee Chen Quek1Isaac Jun Song TanIsaac Jun Song Tan1Helen LimHelen Lim1Ying Jie CheeYing Jie Chee3Zhi Han QuekZhi Han Quek3Liang ShenLiang Shen4Rinkoo Dalan,Rinkoo Dalan3,5
  • 1Department of Nursing, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
  • 2Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • 3Department of Endocrinology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
  • 4Biostatistics Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • 5Lee Kong Chian, School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

Objective: Blood glucose self-monitoring is crucial for individuals with diabetes mellitus and on insulin therapy to ensure safe glycemic control and optimal treatment outcomes. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Bluetooth-enabled glucometers (BTG) versus Traditional glucometers (TG) in a telehealth insulin titration program for individuals with diabetes.

Methods: This 24-week, open-label, randomized controlled trial enrolled 120 participants with diabetes from a tertiary hospital. Participants, aged 21–70 years, who required either insulin initiation or intensification were randomly assigned to either the BTG or TG group. Both groups received three biweekly teleconsultations with Diabetes Nurse Educators for insulin dose adjustments, followed by two clinic visits at three-month intervals.

Results: Participants were predominantly male, Chinese, and diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) throughout the study. The TG group achieved HbA1c reductions of 2.8% at Week 12 and 3.1% at Week 24 (both p < 0.001), while the BTG group showed reductions of 2.23% and 2.18% respectively (both p < 0.001). There were no significant between-group differences in HbA1c at any time point. However, the BTG group showed significantly fewer emergency department visits than TG (4.1% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.039). Both groups demonstrated improvements in diabetes-related distress, with no significant differences between groups.

Conclusion: BTG did not demonstrate glycemic superiority over TG in telehealth insulin titration; however, its association with reduced emergency department visits suggests potential benefits for healthcare utilization. Future studies should investigate the integration of BTG with comprehensive diabetes care platforms, with a focus on long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN69173566, Identifier: ISRCTN69173566.

1 Introduction

Diabetes Mellitus is a major global health challenge, affecting over 537 million people worldwide in 2021, with projections indicating an increase to 783 million by 2045 (1). Poor glycemic control significantly increases the risk of long-term complications, including cardiovascular disease, diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy (2). Insulin therapy is crucial for individuals who fail to achieve glycemic control despite maximum oral hypoglycemic agents. For those newly started on insulin therapy or undergoing insulin intensification, close glucose monitoring during the initial weeks is crucial to prevent adverse glycemic events and enable timely treatment adjustments (3, 4).

In Singapore, Diabetes Nurse Educators (DNEs) provide structured education to individuals with diabetes on self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). The traditional glucometer requires individuals to perform finger-prick testing and manually record their readings in physical logbooks. During clinic visits, patients present their glucose logbooks to DNEs for review, who analyze glucose trends and formulate management plans. However, this process is often burdensome, time-consuming, and prone to errors, which can result in inaccurate data recording and delays in clinical decision-making (5).

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the widespread adoption of telehealth services, aiming to reduce face-to-face clinic visits while maintaining equivalent clinical outcomes (6). However, traditional telehealth consultations present significant challenges for diabetes care. During virtual sessions, DNEs must obtain each glucose reading verbally from patients and manually transcribe them into medical records. This process is both time-consuming and prone to transcription errors (7). This challenge is particularly pronounced when managing elderly individuals with hearing impairments, where communication barriers can further compromise data accuracy.

Bluetooth-enabled glucometers (BTG) address these limitations by wirelessly transmitting blood glucose readings to smartphone applications, eliminating the need for manual recording and reducing the risk of human error (8). BTG enables remote monitoring, allowing healthcare providers to track individuals’ glucose levels and intervene when necessary. Instead of spending valuable time collecting and recording readings, DNEs can focus on meaningful discussions about glucose patterns, lifestyle modifications, and insulin adjustments (9, 10). Trained DNEs follow established algorithms and protocols for insulin titration (Supplementary Data Sheet 1, 2).

While Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems have become widely adopted internationally over the past decade, with insurance coverage making sensors financially accessible in many countries, the situation in Singapore differs. Here, patients must bear the full cost of CGM sensors out of pocket, which has limited their widespread adoption (11). Consequently, traditional finger-prick blood glucose testing remains the predominant approach for glucose monitoring.

Studies have demonstrated that Telehealth Insulin Titration Programmes (TITP) significantly improve glycemic control through safe and effective insulin adjustments by trained nurses over the telephone (12, 13). Beyond addressing clinical inertia, these programmes reduce emotional distress associated with diabetes management by empowering patients with knowledge, strengthening their self-management skills, and minimising the need for frequent clinic visits.

This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether Bluetooth-enabled glucometers (BTG) improve glycemic control compared to traditional glucometers (TG) within a Telehealth Insulin Titration Program (TITP). The study also compares their impact on cardiometabolic outcomes, and diabetes-related distress. We hypothesise that BTG integration within structured telehealth support will enhance glycemic control, reduce diabetes-related emotional distress, and improve the efficiency of remote insulin titration processes, ultimately optimizing patient care delivery and healthcare resource utilisation. These findings will provide valuable insights for optimising telehealth diabetes management, with implications for both patient care and healthcare resource utilisation.

2 Methodology

2.1 Study design

We conducted a 24-week, open-label, randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms at a tertiary hospital in Singapore. The study consisted of an initial 6-week telehealth intervention period, followed by an 18-week follow-up phase. The trial was registered on the ISRCTN Registry (ISRCTN69173566).

2.2 Study population

Participants were recruited during inpatient admissions, after review by the hospital’s Integrated Diabetes Care Programme team, or outpatient clinic visits. Eligible participants were aged 21–70 years and met one of three criteria: they were newly initiated on insulin, undergoing insulin regimen intensification, or had existing insulin dose changes exceeding 20%. All participants were required to own a smartphone and be familiar with mobile applications. The study excluded individuals who were pregnant, had cognitive impairment, were unable to operate a glucometer, were unwilling to perform blood glucose monitoring or participate in teleconsultation, or were already enrolled in other diabetes-related research involving glucose monitoring and medication titration. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

2.3 Sample size

The sample size was calculated to detect a difference in the change from baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) between the intervention and control groups. Based on the study by Hompesch et al. (14), which utilized the MySugr® mobile application (Roche Diabetes Care GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) in Type 1 diabetes, with a difference in mean blood glucose levels of 37.7 mg/dL (corresponding to an estimated HbA1c of 1.3%), assuming the standard deviation (SD) of HbA1c was about 2.25%. Considering a 10% dropout rate, the target sample size was 120, with 60 participants in each group.

2.4 Randomization

The randomization list was pre-generated by an independent statistician using a computer-generated sequence to ensure unbiased group assignment. Eligible participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the Bluetooth-enabled glucometer (BTG) group or the traditional glucometer (TG) group. Allocation concealment was ensured through an automated computerized system, in which group assignment was revealed only after the study team entered each participant’s enrolment details. This process prevented foreknowledge of allocation and minimized selection bias. Due to the nature of the intervention, neither the study team members nor the participants were blinded to group assignment.

2.5 Interventions

The control group used a traditional glucometer (Accu-Chek® Performa glucometer (Roche Diabetes Care, Mannheim, Germany)) (Figure 1) with manual recording of blood glucose readings in a physical logbook. The intervention group used a Bluetooth-enabled glucometer (Accu-Chek® Instant glucometer (Roche Diabetes Care, Mannheim, Germany)) that automatically synchronized readings with the MySugr® mobile application (Roche Diabetes Care GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) (Figure 2), which they shared with DNEs via WhatsApp Messenger (Meta Platforms, Inc., Version 2.19.10, Menlo Park, CA, USA) or email. All functions of the MySugr® app were accessible to all participants. Refer to Figure 2 for images of the MySugr® app. During the initial 6-week period, both groups received three biweekly teleconsultations with DNEs, focusing on insulin dose adjustments and individualized diabetes education.

Figure 1
Blood glucose meter displaying a reading of 5.8 mmol/L. The device shows the time as 9:38 and date as 5-11. It features two navigation buttons below the display.

Figure 1. The control group used the Accu-Chek® Performa glucometer (Roche Diabetes Care, Mannheim, Germany).

Figure 2
Accu-Chek Instant blood glucose monitoring system alongside a smartphone displaying the Accu-Chek app. The display shows a reading of 5.8 mmol/L. Included are a Softclix lancet, a test strip container, and testing strips. The app screen shows glucose levels, average, deviation, and other metrics.

Figure 2. The intervention group used the Accu-Chek® Instant glucometer (Roche Diabetes Care, Mannheim, Germany), which automatically synchronized readings with the MySugr® mobile application (Roche Diabetes Care GmbH, Mannheim, Germany).

All participants maintained their usual diabetes care throughout the study, including regular clinic visits, blood investigations, diabetes education materials, and hospital support programmes. Capillary blood glucose targets were personalized for each participant based on their age, comorbidities, renal function, and risk of hypoglycemia.

2.6 Study outcomes

HbA1c and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were analyzed at the College of American Pathologists-accredited laboratory (Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore). Cardiometabolic parameters were measured using standardized equipment: blood pressure via the CARESCAPE™ V100 Vital Signs Monitor (GE Healthcare, Chicago, IL, USA), and weight and height using the SECA SCALE UP 360 Ultrasonic Measuring Station with ID-Display and Handrail (SECA GmbH & Co. KG, Hamburg, Germany), from which body mass index (BMI) was calculated.

Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using two validated instruments. The 15-item Glucose Monitoring System Satisfaction (GMSS) scale measured device satisfaction, with higher mean scores (after reverse coding negative items) indicating greater satisfaction. The Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale evaluated diabetes-related emotional distress, with higher scores indicating increased distress. Phone consultation times, emergency department visits, and adverse glycemic events were also assessed.

2.7 Data collection timeline

The study comprised an initial six-week intervention period with fortnightly teleconsultations, followed by an 18-week follow-up period incorporating clinic visits at weeks 12 and 24. Clinical measurements, including HbA1c and cardiometabolic parameters (blood pressure, weight, height, and BMI), were assessed at three time points: baseline, week 12, and week 24. Primary outcome was HbA1c, with the final endpoint at week 24. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, Glucose Monitoring System Satisfaction (GMSS) scores, and Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scores were collected at baseline and week 24.

2.8 Statistical analysis

Statistical analyses were conducted on an intention-to-treat basis using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). In the event of withdrawal or loss to follow-up, patients were still included in the analysis for the duration they were observed. Means with SD were reported for all the numerical variables, while frequency and percentage were reported for all the categorical variables. The Chi-square test was used to compare demographics, socioeconomics, and baseline clinical characteristics. The HbA1c reduction at weeks 12 and 24 from baseline was summarized by mean and SD, and a generalized linear model was used to compare it between BTG and TG to adjust for the baseline HbA1c level. Moreover, a paired t-test was used to compare the HbA1c levels measured at weeks 12 and 24 with baseline levels within each intervention group. The cardiometabolic variables and quality of life outcomes were analyzed similarly. The safety outcomes, including the incidence of adverse events and insulin titration, were compared using the Chi-square test. A two-sided p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. GMSS and PAID outcome endpoints were compared by using 2 sample T test and followed by general linear model to adjust for the baseline measurements. An ANCOVA was conducted to compare changes in PAID and GMSS scores between the intervention and control groups while adjusting for baseline PAID scores.

3 Results

One hundred and twenty participants were recruited for this study - 17 participants dropped out, and 103 participants completed the study (Figure 3).

Figure 3
Flowchart of a study detailing enrolment, allocation, follow-up, and analysis. Initially, 205 participants are screened; 85 are excluded for various reasons. The remaining 120 are randomized, with 60 each allocated to control and intervention groups. The control group loses 6 participants during follow-up, while the intervention group loses 10. Finally, 54 participants in the control group and 49 in the intervention group are analyzed.

Figure 3. CONSORT Flow Diagram.

3.1 Baseline clinical characteristics

Table 1 presents comparable baseline characteristics across the groups. The study population was predominantly male (68.3%), Chinese (62.5%), and diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (85.8%). Most participants had a diabetes duration of less than 10 years and were new to insulin therapy. Basal insulin was the most common prescribed regimen, and participants were typically advised to perform SMBG 6 times per week.

Table 1
www.frontiersin.org

Table 1. Demographic and baseline characteristics of participants (n=120).

3.2 SMBG adherence

An 80% adherence rate to SMBG is recommended to achieve blood glucose control. Participants initially demonstrated 74.4% (n=117) compliance to this recommendation during the first four weeks, which declined to 67.8% (n=115) by week 6.

3.3 Primary outcome

Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in HbA1c throughout the study period. The TG group showed a decrease in HbA1c of 2.8% at week 12 and 3.1% at week 24 (both p < 0.001), while the BTG group achieved reductions of 2.23% and 2.18% respectively (both p < 0.001) (Table 2). After adjusting for baseline HbA1c levels, the general linear model showed that there was no significant difference in HbA1c reduction from baseline between participants in the BTG group and TG group at both week 12 (mean difference: 0.21, 95% CI: -0.28 – 0.71, p = 0.402) and week 24 (mean difference: 0.23, 95% CI: -0.37 – 0.84, p = 0.440) (Table 3); even though patients in the TG group seemed to have slightly greater reduction.

Table 2
www.frontiersin.org

Table 2. Change in cardiometabolic parameters from baseline.

Table 3
www.frontiersin.org

Table 3. Comparison of phone consultation outcomes between two groups.

3.4 Cardiometabolic outcomes

Statistically significant within group LDL decreases were seen in the BTG group (mean difference = 0.25 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.51 to 0.00, p = 0.050), however there was no statistically significant difference in LDL readings between the BTG group and TG group, even after correcting for baseline readings (mean difference = 0.26 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.07 to 0.59, p = 0.123). Statistically significant within group weight gain were seen in both the BTG group (mean difference = 1.67kg, 95% CI: 0.32 to 3.03, p = 0.017) and TG group (mean difference = 1.63kg, 95% CI: 0.14 to 3.13, p = 0.033). However, the between group differences in weight were statistically insignificant even after adjusting for baseline differences (p = 0.656). Blood pressure remained stable in both groups, with no significant between-group differences. After adjusting for baseline differences, analysis of cardiometabolic parameters revealed no statistically significant differences between groups (Table 2).

3.5 Phone consultation outcomes

Table 3 presents the outcomes of phone consultations between groups across three time points (PC 1 to PC 3). Regarding insulin titration requirements, the intervention group showed a significantly higher proportion of participants needing adjustment at PC1 compared to the control group (78% vs 56.9%, p = 0.015). However, the TG group required more frequent prandial insulin titration compared to the BTG group (81.0% vs. 47.8%, p = 0.023). Although the TG group also showed a higher proportion of basal insulin titration (67.9% vs. 50.0%), this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.064). The proportion of participants achieving ≥80% SMBG readings within the target range showed no significant differences between groups across all time points.

3.6 Patient-reported outcomes

An ANCOVA was conducted to compare changes in PAID scores between the intervention and control groups while adjusting for baseline PAID scores. The analysis showed no statistically significant difference in PAID score change between the Intervention group and Control group (95% CI: -4.78, 7.39, p = 0.671).

In contrast, baseline PAID scores were a significant predictor of change. For every one-unit increase in baseline PAID score, the change in PAID decreased by 0.44 points (95% CI: -0.63, -0.25, p < 0.001), indicating that participants with higher initial emotional distress experienced greater reductions over time.

To assess the effect of the intervention on the change in GMSS scores, adjusting for baseline GMSS scores. There was no statistically significant difference in GMSS score change between the Intervention group and the Control group (95% CI: -4.61, 1.62, p = 0.345), indicating a negligible effect of the intervention.

However, the baseline GMSS score was a significant covariate. For every one-unit increase in baseline GMSS, the change in GMSS decreased by 0.684 points (95% CI: -0.90 to -0.46, p < 0.001). This suggests that participants with higher baseline satisfaction reported smaller increases (or larger decreases) in satisfaction over time.

3.7 Adverse events

Adverse events were generally less frequent in the BTG group. Although the TG group showed higher rates of hyperglycemia (25.9% vs. 16.3%, p = 0.235) and hypoglycemia (18.5% vs. 12.2%, p = 0.380), these differences were not statistically significant. Notably, emergency department visits were significantly lower in the BTG group compared to the TG group (4.1% vs 16.7%, p = 0.039). Hospital admissions, although more frequent in the TG group (21.8% vs 12.2%), did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.198). Detailed results are presented in Table 4.

Table 4
www.frontiersin.org

Table 4. Comparison of adverse events among two groups.

4 Discussion

The implementation of BTG in diabetes management presents a nuanced landscape of benefits and limitations. While this study showed that BTG did not demonstrate superior glycemic control compared to traditional methods, it does support previous research that self-monitoring of blood glucose with telehealth, regardless of the use of Bluetooth, facilitates better glycemic control (15, 16) and improved LDLs (17) Most notably, the results highlight the importance of telehealth and also indicate significant advantages of BTG in optimising insulin titration, healthcare resource utilisation and safety, which are key areas of effective preventive telehealth monitoring.

4.1 The importance of telehealth in HbA1c

The results showed that when it comes to glycemic control, especially in terms of HbA1c, the role of effective telehealth monitoring may be more important than using BTG. Previous research has suggested significant advantages of connected glucose monitoring devices, with Grady et al. (16) reporting improved glucose readings in range by 8.1-11.2% amongst over 17, 000 people with diabetes, and Xiao et al. (18) demonstrating effective improvements in blood glucose levels and BMI through digital diabetes management. However, this study found no statistically significant glycaemic superiority of BTG over traditional glucometers within a structured telehealth framework. Instead, this finding corroborates with established evidence that SMBG facilitates HbA1c reduction (15); however, it suggests that the benefit of Bluetooth connectivity may be modest at best when both groups receive structured telehealth insulin titration support. The results indicate that within a robust telehealth framework, the primary contributor to improved glycemic outcomes may be the frequency and timeliness of professional feedback rather than the device’s connectivity feature alone. This observation aligns with findings from Xiao et al. (18), which demonstrated that digital diabetes management effectively improves blood glucose levels in individuals with T2DM in home settings, with success primarily attributed to frequent SMBG supported by dedicated healthcare professionals providing timely, personalised, and responsive guidance.

4.2 Better optimised insulin titration

A notable finding was that the BTG group required more insulin titration adjustments initially, compared to the TG group. A previous study suggested that early insulin titration, especially within a 12-week period, can lead to better glycemic control as it achieves glycemic targets faster and help preserve beta-cell function (19) This may reflect the advantages of real-time glucose data transmission. Immediate access to comprehensive glucose profiles likely enabled DNEs to detect patterns earlier and initiate titration decisions more confidently. Conversely, the TG group relied on manual transcription of glucose readings, a process prone to incomplete data or inaccuracies. Over time, this study’s results also showed that the TG group required more prandial insulin titration than the BTG group. This might be due to better awareness of the BTG participants’ glycemic control as the app also shows colour-coded CBG targets (20) These findings suggest that BTG optimises insulin titration processes and reinforce that structured professional support remains the cornerstone of effective diabetes management regardless of monitoring technology employed.

4.3 Improved healthcare utilization and safety

A particularly significant outcome was the marked reduction in emergency department (ED) utilisation among BTG participants, attributed to more frequent and timely insulin modifications during telehealth consultations. Automated glucose data transmission enabled continuous monitoring by DNEs and proactive dosage adjustments, thereby minimising both hyperglycaemic and hypoglycaemic events. The BTG system’s comprehensive interface of incorporating colour-coded glycaemic targets, estimated HbA1c projections, trend visualisation and integrated bolus calculators likely also empowered participants to interpret their data and engage proactively in self-management. This automatic data transmission addresses critical safety concerns, as Geller et al. (21) identified insulin-related errors as major contributors to ED presentations through inappropriate dosing or administration. Considering that ED visits generate approximately $1387 in patient costs per episode in the United States (22) while exacerbating strain on overburdened emergency services (23), these reductions in healthcare utilisation have substantial implications for resource optimisation and cost-effectiveness across healthcare systems and patient populations. These outcomes are consistent with extensive real-world data demonstrating that enhanced data connectivity and professional feedback loops constitute primary mechanisms through which connected glucose monitoring technologies improve clinical outcomes (21, 24).

4.4 Weight gain: a side-effect of better glycemic control

Both the BTG and TG groups experienced statistically significant weight gain, with a slightly greater (though non-significant) increase in the BTG arm. This finding contrasts with evidence from Xiao et al. (18), which demonstrated that digital diabetes management can effectively improve both blood glucose levels and BMI in individuals with T2DM. The observed weight gain in this study where both groups received insulin titration is likely due to a combination of the anabolic effect insulin has in inhibiting protein breakdown and increased calorie intake by participants trying to prevent hypoglycemia (23). The results may therefore reflect intensified insulin therapy or lifestyle factors associated with tighter glucose regulation rather than device-related effects. Further investigation is warranted to determine how digital tools influence weight trajectories within intensive telehealth support.

5 Conclusion

In summary, the IT-PDM study demonstrates that within a structured telehealth framework, BTG enhances therapeutic responsiveness, healthcare utilization and patient safety. Moreover, the addition of Bluetooth connectivity via an app did not negatively impact glucose device satisfaction, contributing to the feasibility to the implementation of BTG. However, Bluetooth-enabled glucometers did not confer significant glycemic superiority over traditional monitoring. These findings align with broader evidence that the success of digital diabetes management depends primarily on timely clinician engagement, real-time data utilization and patient support rather than the connectivity feature alone. Bluetooth connectivity thus serves as an enabler of coordinated, responsive and safer telehealth-based diabetes care.

5.1 Limitations and future directions

Several limitations should be considered when interpreting our findings. As a single-centre study conducted at a tertiary hospital in Singapore, the results may not be fully generalisable to other healthcare settings or populations. The open-label design, necessitated by the nature of the intervention, could have introduced bias in self-reported outcomes. Our requirement for smartphone ownership and familiarity with mobile applications may have selected for a more tech-savvy population, potentially overestimating the feasibility of BTG implementation in the broader diabetes population. The 24-week follow-up period, while sufficient to demonstrate glycemic improvements, may not fully capture long-term adherence and sustainability of the intervention. The predominance of male, Chinese participants with relatively short diabetes duration may restrict generalizability to other demographic groups or those with longer-standing diabetes. Finally, the study did not systematically capture technical challenges or user difficulties with the BTG system, which could affect real-world implementation.

Future research should examine specific patient subgroups, particularly elderly patients and those with limited technological literacy, to identify populations that would benefit most from BTG technology. Additionally, studies should explore how these systems can be optimally integrated into existing healthcare workflows to reduce healthcare utilisation and enhance clinical efficiency.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Ethics statement

The studies involving humans were approved by National Healthcare Group Domain Specific Review Board. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

Author contributions

XL: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation, Visualization, Writing – original draft. HuL: Writing – review & editing, Data curation. YL: Conceptualization, Data curation, Writing – review & editing, Methodology, Visualization. AL: Writing – review & editing, Methodology, Data curation. EG: Data curation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing. CG: Data curation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing. HQ: Writing – review & editing, Methodology, Data curation. IT: Visualization, Writing – review & editing, Formal analysis, Methodology. HeL: Methodology, Formal analysis, Visualization, Writing – review & editing. YC: Writing – review & editing, Formal analysis. ZQ: Conceptualization, Visualization, Writing – review & editing, Data curation. LS: Writing – review & editing, Methodology, Visualization, Formal analysis. RD: Visualization, Supervision, Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declared that financial support was received for this work and/or its publication. This study was supported by the Ng Teng Fong Healthcare Innovation Programme, and we are grateful for their financial assistance under Track 2, Category 1. Financial support was received for publication of this article from Nursing Service Department, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.

Acknowledgments

We express our sincere gratitude to Prof. Bernhard Otto Boehm and Prof. Wilson Tam for their critical reviews and constructive feedback, which significantly improved this manuscript. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants for their invaluable contributions. Their willingness to share their data and participate selflessly has played a vital role in advancing diabetes care.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Generative AI statement

The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.

Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article has been generated by Frontiers with the support of artificial intelligence and reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, including review by the authors wherever possible. If you identify any issues, please contact us.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1724811/full#supplementary-material

Abbreviations

BMI, Body mass index; BTG, Bluetooth-enabled glucometer; CGM, continuous glucose monitoring; DNE, Diabetes Nurse Educator; GMSS, Glucose Monitoring System Satisfaction; HbA1c, Glycated Hemoglobin; LDL, Low-density lipoprotein; PAID, Problem Areas in Diabetes; PC, Phone consultations; SD, Standard deviation; SMBG, Self-monitoring of blood glucose; TG, Traditional glucometer; TITP, Telehealth Insulin Titration Programme.

References

1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF diabetes atlas. 10th ed. Brussels (BE: International Diabetes Federation (2021).

Google Scholar

2. American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes—2023. Diabetes Care. (2023) 46:S1–S289.

Google Scholar

3. Zhu H, Li Y, and Wang Q. Digital health technologies in diabetes care: The role of Bluetooth-enabled glucometers. J Diabetes Sci Technol. doi: 10.1177/19322968231184090

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

4. UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group. Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33). The Lancet (1998) 352:837–53. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(98)07019-6

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

5. Miller E, Polonsky WH, and Miller K. What role might there be for continuous glucose monitoring in the assessment of diabetes risk? Diabetes Technol Ther. (2023) 25. doi: 10.1089/dia.2023.0037

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

6. Lee JM, Carlson E, Albanese-O’Neill A, Demeterco-Berggren C, Corathers SD, Vendrame F, et al. Adoption of telemedicine for type 1 diabetes care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Diabetes Technol Ther. (2021) 23:642–51. doi: 10.1089/dia.2021.0080

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

7. Lin S, Liu J, and Chen X. Telehealth interventions for diabetes management: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Telemed Telecare. doi: 10.1177/1357633X231181896

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

8. Smith KJ, Fox A, and Koh C. Integrating telehealth and personalized diabetes management: Impact on patient outcomes in type 2 diabetes. J Telemed Telecare. (2023) 29:45–53. doi: 10.1177/1357633X22113671

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

9. Davies MJ, D’Alessio DA, Fradkin J, Kernan WN, Mathieu C, Mingrone G, et al. Management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes, 2018: A consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Diabetes Care. (2018) 41:2669–701. doi: 10.2337/dci18-0033

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

10. Iannitto JM, Dickman K, Lakhani RH, and So MJC. Telehealth insulin program: Managing insulin in primary care. J Nurse Pract. (2014) 10:e1–6. doi: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2014.07.027

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

11. Ministry of Health Singapore. No subsidies for glucose monitoring devices now because not all patients benefit . Available online at: https://www.moh.gov.sg/newsroom/no-subsidies-for-glucose-monitoring-devices-now-because-not-all-patients-benefit (Accessed June 21, 2025).

Google Scholar

12. Larsen ME, Turner J, Farmer A, Neil A, and Tarassenko L. Telemedicine-supported insulin optimisation in primary care. J Telemed Telecare. (2010) 16:433–40. doi: 10.1258/jtt.2010.100103

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

13. Greenwood DA, Gee PM, Fatkin KJ, and Peeples M. A systematic review of reviews evaluating technology-enabled diabetes self-management education and support. J Diabetes Sci Technol. (2017) 11:1015–27. doi: 10.1177/1932296817713506

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

14. Hompesch M, Kalcher K, and Debong F. High risk population using mobile logging application shows significant reduction in LBGI [abstract. (2017) 66:952–P.

Google Scholar

15. Polonsky WH, Fisher L, Hessler D, and Edelman SV. Development of a new measure for assessing glucose monitoring device-related treatment satisfaction and quality of life. Diabetes Technol Ther. (2015) 17. doi: 10.1089/dia.2014.0417

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

16. Grady M, Cameron H, Bhatiker A, Holt E, and Schnell O. Real-world evidence of improved glycemic control in people with diabetes using a Bluetooth-connected blood glucose meter with a mobile diabetes management app. Diabetes Technol Ther. (2022) 24:770–8. doi: 10.1089/dia.2022.0134.\

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

17. Fernando ME, Seng L, Drovandi A, Crowley BJ, and Golledge J. Effectiveness of remotely delivered interventions to simultaneously optimize management of hypertension, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in people with diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Endocrinol. (2022) 13:848695. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.848695

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

18. Xiao Y, Wang Z, Zhang L, Xie N, Chen F, Song Z, et al. Effectiveness of digital diabetes management technology on blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes at home: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res. (2025) 27:e66441. doi: 10.2196/66441

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

19. Jain SM, Seshadri K, Unnikrishnan AG, Chawla M, Kalra P, Vipin VP, et al. Best practices and tools for titrating basal insulins: expert opinion from an Indian panel via the modified Delphi consensus method. Diabetes Ther. (2020) 11:621–32. doi: 10.1007/s13300-020-00770-9

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

20. Grady M, Katz LB, and Levy BL. Use of blood glucose meters featuring color range indicators improves glycemic control in patients with diabetes in comparison to blood glucose meters without color (ACCENTS study). J Diabetes Sci Technol. (2018) 12:1211–9. doi: 10.1177/1932296818775755

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

21. Geller AI, Shehab N, Lovegrove MC, Kegler SR, Weidenbach KN, Ryan GJ, et al. National estimates of insulin-related hypoglycemia and errors leading to emergency department visits and hospitalizations. JAMA Intern Med. (2014) 174:678–86. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.136

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

22. Quilliam BJ, Simeone JC, Ozbay AB, and Kogut SJ. The incidence and costs of hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes. Am J Manag Care. (2011) 17:673–80.

PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar

23. Ma KJ, Hsu YC, Pan WW, Chou MH, Chung W, Wang JY, et al. Effects of emergency department length of stay on inpatient utilization and mortality. Health Econ Rev. (2025) 15:11. doi: 10.1186/s13561-025-00598-8

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

24. Grady M, Cameron H, and Holt E. Improved glycemic control using a Bluetooth®-connected blood glucose meter and a mobile diabetes app: real-world evidence from over 144, 000 people with diabetes. J Diabetes Sci Technol. (2024) 18:1087–95. doi: 10.1177/19322968221148764

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: telehealth, blood glucose self-monitoring, glycemic control, diabetes mellitus, bluetooth

Citation: Lian X, Liew HL, Lee YS, Lin AY, Goh EYW, Goh CYH, Quek HC, Tan IJS, Lim H, Chee YJ, Quek ZH, Shen L and Dalan R (2025) Telehealth insulin titration in adults with diabetes: a randomized controlled trial comparing bluetooth-enabled versus traditional glucometers. Front. Endocrinol. 16:1724811. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1724811

Received: 14 October 2025; Accepted: 26 November 2025; Revised: 22 November 2025;
Published: 16 December 2025.

Edited by:

Xiantong Zou, Peking University People’s Hospital, China

Reviewed by:

Ismael Hernández Avalos, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico
Shengdi Lu, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

Copyright © 2025 Lian, Liew, Lee, Lin, Goh, Goh, Quek, Tan, Lim, Chee, Quek, Shen and Dalan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Xia Lian, bGlhbi54aWFAbmhnaGVhbHRoLmNvbS5zZw==

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.