• Rubén Silva-Tinoco and Viridiana de la Torre-Saldaña.
• Servicios de Salud Pública, Clínica Especializada en el Manejo de la Diabetes del Gobierno de la Ciudad de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
• Gac Med Mex. 2021 Jan 1; 157 (3): 309-312.

IntroductionPatients with diabetes experience difficulties to maintain glycemic control during the confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the risk of developing diabetes chronic complications and severe COVID-19.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the conversion of an outpatient diabetes primary care center from a face-to-face care modality to a telemedicine care service by telephone.MethodsMedical consultations were made by telephone during the initial phase of confinement (April to June 2020), to then continue the follow-up of patients admitted to a multicomponent diabetes care program.ResultsA total of 1,118 consultations were made by telephone and follow-up was subsequently continued in 192 patients with type 2 diabetes. Different professionals from different health areas participated, including medical care, diabetes education, nutrition, psychology and podiatry.ConclusionsMulticomponent diabetes care was successfully transformed from a face-to-face care modality to a telemedicine service. Many primary care patients may be candidates for telemedicine. A redesign of the care model that incorporates telemedicine should be considered to mitigate chronic diseases burden of morbidity and mortality imposed by COVID-19 pandemic, but also for the post-COVID-19 era.Copyright: © 2021 Permanyer.

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