Diabetes care has always required consistency, education and close communication between patients and healthcare providers. In recent years, telemedicine has grown from a niche service into a mainstream method of delivering care, offering diabetes patients new ways to stay connected to their health teams. Joe Kiani, founder of Masimo, recognizes how remote care technologies are shaping new ways to support diabetes management with greater flexibility and consistency.
As virtual platforms become more integrated into chronic care models, the question is no longer whether telemedicine can support diabetes management. It’s how it compares to traditional in-person care in practice. Understanding the strengths and trade-offs of both models is key to designing care that meets patients where they are and helps them stay on track long-term.
The Case for In-Person Diabetes Care
For decades, in-person care has been the foundation of diabetes treatment. Regular checkups, physical exams and face-to-face consultations allow providers to observe subtle signs of complications, build rapport and tailor advice based on body language and tone. Physical assessments such as foot exams, retinal screenings and lab work are often easier to perform during office visits, and some patients feel more confident receiving guidance in person.
In-person care also tends to offer greater continuity in provider relationships. Many patients with diabetes rely on long-standing trust built over time with their endocrinologists, primary care doctors or diabetes educators. This trust often supports stronger adherence to care plans and improved emotional well-being. However, in-person visits can come with barriers; transportation, time off work, childcare and scheduling challenges may make regular appointments difficult for some patients to maintain.
How Telemedicine Expands Access
Telemedicine opens new doors for diabetes patients who face logistical hurdles. Virtual appointments allow people to meet with their healthcare providers from home, reducing the need to travel or wait for availability at overbooked clinics. This flexibility can increase appointment frequency, making it easier for patients to stay on top of their glucose levels, medications and lifestyle changes.
Remote monitoring tools also play a key role. Devices such as continuous glucose monitors, smart scales and blood pressure cuffs can send data directly to healthcare providers, who can then provide real-time feedback. For patients with busy schedules or those living in rural areas, this model offers both convenience and immediacy.
In some cases, telemedicine improves patient engagement by allowing more frequent touchpoints. Brief check-ins by video or phone can help adjust medication, clarify questions or motivate behavior change between scheduled visits.
Balancing Clinical Accuracy with Convenience
While telemedicine increases accessibility, it may not always offer the full diagnostic picture that in-person care provides. Certain assessments require hands-on interaction, lab testing or specialist referrals that are more easily coordinated in person. For patients with complex diabetes complications such as neuropathy, kidney issues or cardiovascular concerns, being physically present may allow for more thorough care.
Still, many aspects of diabetes management can be handled virtually. Medication adjustments, nutrition counseling, mental health support and behavior coaching all translate well to virtual settings, when supported by the right technology.
The key is finding the right balance. Many experts now support a hybrid approach that blends telemedicine and in-person care, allowing patients to choose the format that best fits their needs at different stages of care.
Patient Preference and Personalization
The choice between telemedicine and in-person care often comes down to patient preference. Some people appreciate the flexibility and privacy of virtual visits, while others find comfort in the structure and familiarity of a clinical setting.
Personalization plays a critical role in both formats. Effective care depends on how well the model fits the patient’s lifestyle, access to technology and comfort level with remote communication. For instance, an older adult who is less tech-savvy might prefer office visits, while a younger patient managing Type 1 diabetes may thrive with app-based support and virtual coaching.
Healthcare providers must consider these factors when developing care plans. The goal is not to replace one model with the other but to tailor care delivery to support long-term success and sustained engagement.
Understanding What Support Really Means
For many people living with diabetes, the shift to telemedicine made care feel more reachable, but not always more manageable. What changed during the pandemic was not just access to virtual tools, but expectations around how care should meet people where they are. The platforms that helped the most were the ones that reduced friction, offered clarity and kept patients from falling behind when in-person care wasn’t possible.
These moments revealed something deeper about the role of digital health. As Joe Kiani explains, “Telemedicine makes it easier for people with diabetes to manage their care from home, which can be a game-changer for many. But for some, the personal touch and hands-on support of in-person visits still play an important role in getting the best care.” The technology may be virtual, but the needs it meets are deeply personal and urgent. What really matters is not just how these tools grow, but how they stand up for people when life gets tough.
Equity, Access and Digital Literacy
Virtual care makes diabetes management easier for many, but not for everyone. Some patients don’t have reliable internet, private space at home or the comfort level needed to use digital platforms with confidence. For older adults, people with limited health literacy or those juggling too many responsibilities, even simple apps can feel like one more thing to manage.
If telemedicine is going to improve access, it has to account for these realities. That means offering care in ways that match different levels of comfort and connection. It also means keeping in-person options open, especially for those who need a slower pace, a familiar routine or just the reassurance of face-to-face care.
Care That Adjusts with the Patient
There’s no single way to deliver diabetes care that works for everyone. Some patients rely on the structure of in-person visits. Others need the flexibility that virtual care can offer. Both approaches bring value, and most people need some of each at different points in time.
The real goal isn’t choosing between models. It’s building systems that adapt. When care is flexible, familiar and easy to return to, it becomes easier to stick with, even when life gets complicated.
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