Weekly Telehealth Calls Improve Blood Sugar in Kids With T1D

What Was Studied and Why It Matters

Managing Type 1 diabetes in children and teenagers is one of the most challenging tasks families face. Even with advanced tools like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), many young people still struggle to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range. Researchers wanted to know: could adding regular, structured phone check-ins with a diabetes educator make a real difference — on top of CGM technology already being used?

This study, published in Pediatric Diabetes in 2025, tested exactly that with 105 children and adolescents in a carefully designed clinical trial.

How the Study Worked

All 105 participants (average age 11.8 years) were already using the FreeStyle Libre 2 CGM and giving themselves multiple daily insulin injections. Their blood sugar control was considered suboptimal — their average HbA1c was 9.4%, well above the target of under 6.5%.

Each child went through two 12-week periods: one with routine diabetes care, and one with an intensive telehealth program. The telehealth program involved a 20-minute weekly phone call with a trained diabetes educator who reviewed the child's CGM data and provided structured coaching and support. Researchers then compared the results from both periods for each child.

What the Findings Show

The weekly telehealth calls produced several meaningful improvements compared to routine care alone:

• HbA1c dropped by 0.29% — a statistically significant reduction reflecting better average blood sugar over time
• Time in Range (TIR) increased — meaning kids spent more hours each day with blood sugar in the healthy zone
• Time Above Range (TAR) decreased — fewer hours with dangerously high blood sugar
• Blood sugar variability dropped — fewer unpredictable swings up and down
• Low blood sugar episodes decreased — a reassuring safety finding for parents

Importantly, the rate of low blood sugar events (time below range) did not worsen — it was already within target and stayed that way.

What This Means for Real Patients and Families

This research sends a clear and encouraging message: the technology alone isn't enough — consistent human support matters. A 20-minute weekly call with a knowledgeable educator reviewing CGM data helped children do measurably better. For busy families, this is also practical. No clinic visits, no travel — just a structured phone conversation that keeps care on track.

If your child uses a CGM like the FreeStyle Libre 2, pairing that data with regular educator check-ins could amplify its benefits. Families who rely on MDS Diabetes for CGM supplies and diabetes management products should also ask their care team about telehealth support programs that can complement the tools they already use at home.

Bottom Line

Adding weekly 20-minute telehealth calls with a diabetes educator to CGM use significantly improved blood sugar control in children and teenagers with Type 1 diabetes. Blood sugar averages, time in range, and dangerous highs all improved — without increasing lows. While the improvements were modest, they were consistent and meaningful, suggesting that regular human support is a powerful complement to diabetes technology.