Background: The
COVID-۱۹ pandemic has significantly accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, particularly for the treatment of patients with diabetes. This narrative review examines the applications of telemedicine for diabetes care during the pandemic and identifies both challenges and opportunities associated with this approach. By analyzing existing literature and experiences, this review aims to improve understanding of how telemedicine has impacted the quality of diabetes management and suggest strategies for its effective implementation. Materials and Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, this review systematically selected literature that focused on keywords related to telemedicine, diabetes management, and the COVID-۱۹ pandemic. A comprehensive search of databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science yielded ۲۰ relevant articles after removing duplicates. The analysis categorized factors affecting the effectiveness of telemedicine into clinical, individual, organizational and technical challenges. Results: The analysis found that several key factors influence the effectiveness of telemedicine in treating diabetes during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic. Personal factors such as age and gender significantly influence how patients and healthcare providers engage with telehealth services, impacting both adoption and effectiveness. Psychological factors also play a crucial role; While telemedicine can increase empathy and improve patient-provider interaction, it can cause emotional exhaustion among providers and negatively impact quality of care. In addition, educational factors are crucial. Adequate training in telehealth technologies is essential for effective implementation. Improved training allows healthcare providers to use telemedicine more efficiently, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes. Additionally, the integration of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technologies has facilitated the remote management of blood glucose control and demonstrated the potential of telemedicine to maintain continuity of care in times of crisis. Addressing these multiple challenges is critical to maximizing the effectiveness of telemedicine in emergency diabetes care. Conclusion: This review highlights the critical role of telemedicine in the management of diabetes during the
COVID-۱۹ pandemic while acknowledging the challenges involved. While it significantly improves access to healthcare services for patients with diabetes, attention must be paid to personal, psychological, organizational and technical factors to optimize its effectiveness. Future research should focus on developing targeted interventions that address these challenges while exploring innovative ways to integrate telemedicine into standard diabetes care practices. In this way, health systems can better prepare for future health crises and improve patient outcomes.
