Manage Your Diabetes With the Help of an Online Doctor
If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes and need chronic care management, an online doctor may be a more efficient way to get ongoing care than making traditional visits to a GP.
Studies (like this one from 2019) have shown that telemedicine is far more effective in managing diabetes when compared with traditional care. This study showed that people who had access to an online doctor showed lower HbA1c levels and better outcomes when compared to people who only relied on in-person doctor visits to manage their diabetes. Other studies showed that diabetics getting virtual care reported decreases in blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and body mass index.
Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed, or have been a long-time sufferer of diabetes and want to make the switch to virtual care, here’s what you need to know:
Can an online doctor diagnose diabetes?
Your diagnosis should be conducted via an in-person consultation. This is because a doctor may need to suggest a few blood and urine tests and may need specialised equipment to make a definitive diagnosis. But once you have been diagnosed, your online doctor can help you with the following:
- Education of your disease - Monitoring of glucose levels - Follow-up checkups - Prescription adjustments and refills - Training for the devices used to manage diabetes - Overall management.Your online doctor may also suggest an in-person visit if they fear you have a comorbid condition resulting from diabetes, or if they want to examine you physically for any reason.
How to prepare for your online doctor appointment
Get your HbAC1 levels checked prior to your appointment. You should also have a log of your daily blood glucose levels that you take using your glucometer, blood pressure levels, and your most recent weight. You must also have access to a smartphone, tablet, desktop or laptop computer with audio and video capabilities as well as a strong, reliable internet connection. Find a quiet place in the house where both you and your doctor can hear each other clearly without background disturbances. It is also important for you to let your doctor know of any other pre-existing medical conditions you have or any medications you are currently taking that may interfere with your treatment and cause complications.
Prescribing medication for diabetes
While Prime Medic doctors cannot issue new prescriptions to patients without an in-person visit, they are authorised to adjust doses as per a patient’s needs and write repeat prescriptions for medication the patient is already using with our PrimeScript service. This medical script online service allows you to manage your diabetes without having to go to your GP every time you need an adjustment to your dose or run out of your medication.
Your online doctor may also get your prescription faxed or mailed to your local pharmacy for you to pick up whenever it suits you.
How will a Prime Medic doctor manage your diabetes?
During your online consultation, your online doctor will review your glucose and blood sugar levels since your last consultation and look for fluctuations. They will then ask you questions to learn more about what may have caused these fluctuations and what medications you are currently taking. Depending upon the severity of your condition, they may suggest lifestyle and diet changes, such as recommending regular exercise, a weight loss program or developing a specialised diet plan to help you manage your blood sugar levels.
You will need to keep a logbook of your glucose levels on a day-to-day basis for your healthcare provider to review during your consultation.
Why Choose Virtual Care Over Traditional Care?
Simply put, virtual care is more convenient. You don’t need to drive down to your GP’s clinic for every appointment and wait to be seen but can simply get specialised care while you go about your day. If you live in a remote or rural area or are frequently on the road and are experiencing glucose fluctuations, telehealth services like Prime Medic allow you access to some of the best doctors in Australia, regardless of your location. You can get quick and easy care, whenever you need it. With telemedicine, managing your diabetes is quite literally in your hands!
Get your medical scripts online, a specialist referral, have online video consultations with a doctor from the comfort of your own home, all with the help of Prime Medic. All our doctors are AHPRA registered, and our specialist referrals are accepted all over Australia and by Medicare. So even if you only need to see a primary care provider for a referral for an endocrinologist, our online doctors can write one for you.
With no hidden fees and some doctors who are able to bulk bill patients, online medical services have been a gamechanger in the pandemic. Download our app today and get started on a new way to manage your health.
Have more questions about how we work? Check out our FAQs page or reach out to us today.
