Telemedicine in management of Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy

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Sähkötekniikan korkeakoulu | Bachelor's thesis
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Date

2024-04-26

Department

Major/Subject

Digital Systems and Design

Mcode

ELEC3056

Degree programme

Aalto Bachelor's Programme in Science and Technology

Language

en

Pages

26 + 5

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Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition that arises due to increased blood glucose levels. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that occurs when high blood glucose damages the blood vessels in the eye, resulting in vision loss. There are 537 million patients with diabetes and 103 million are diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. This population are more vulnerable to contracting infections and therefore the delivery of effective healthcare is required. A key point to note is that diabetic retinopathy can be prevented if it is detected early. Moreover, the screening of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy is vital to ensure that patients receive optimal treatment. Telemedicine is one promising solution to this problem as it enables the provision of healthcare services to patients who face challenges accessing it. The findings indicate that telemedicine in the management of diabetes provides better access to healthcare in remote areas and reduces the wait time for specialist consultations. It assists in the grading of diabetic retinopathy and reduces the burden on ophthalmologists. Telemedicine improves the quality of life by reducing the costs incurred with management of diabetes. Furthermore, it can be utilised in educating patients about diabetes and its associated complications. Despite these benefits, problems such as lowquality image produced hinders the cost effectiveness and potential inaccuracies affect the assessment of the condition. Telemedicine also poses a challenge to the relationship between the patient and physician due to reduced face-to-face interactions. Overcoming these barriers is important for its global implementation. Telemedicine has the potential to replace traditional management methods. The development of an affordable and reliable handheld camera could potentially remove the need for in-person visits. Furthermore, integrating telemedicine in primary healthcare can help manage the growing demand for diabetes care due to the growing population. The development in technology and further research is required for a more widespread implementation of telemedicine in the management of diabetes and screening of diabetic retinopathy.

Description

Supervisor

Ylirisku, Salu

Thesis advisor

Sahlsten, Jaakko

Keywords

diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, telemedicine

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202406184538

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[kand] Sähkötekniikan korkeakoulu / ELEC