Exercise and telehealth: A survey looking at self-management of diabetes during the pandemic

ABSTRACT

Aims: The covid-19 pandemic disrupted the provision of diabetes care in the UK with many routine clinic visits replaced with video or telephone appointments. Using an online survey we aimed to investigate the effect that the pandemic had on diabetes self-management in relation to the increased provision of telehealth. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed in collaboration with Diabetes UK local groups in the Scottish Highlands and in Northern Ireland via their email lists (n = 94). We conducted a thematic analysis of responses combined with descriptive analysis. Results: 62% (n = 52) of respondents said that their daily exercise had reduced and 37% (n = 31) said their diet deteriorated during the pandemic. Conversely 20% (n = 17) said their diet improved, and 16% (n = 13) said daily exercise increased, due to more time and freedom associated with working from home. We also found that despite greater convenience, 52% of participants thought telehealth was a poor substitute for face-to- face appointments. Some respondents (51%, n = 43) said that they had delayed the use of healthcare services because of covid-19. Of these respondents a further 47% (n = 20) said that the delay had had adverse effects on their health. Conclusions: Greater access to telehealth services does not appear to compensate for negative effects of complication development and self-management challenges associated with covid-19. In future, less reliance on telehealth and a more blended targeted approach is required to ensure delay and escalation of diabetes complications does not have significant adverse effects on individual health and healthcare services.