A new study reveals that personalised telehealth coaching significantly enhances confidence and ongoing engagement among rural Mississippians managing diabetes, addressing longstanding access barriers.
A telehealth coaching programme appears to be helping rural Mississippians manage diabetes with more confidence, according to a collaborative study from the University of Mississippi and the Mississippi Diabetes Network published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The research focused not on laboratory results but on how patients experienced the programme, offering a closer look at what keeps people engaged in diabetes care.
Mississippi remains one of the hardest-hit states in the US, with about one in seven residents living with diabetes. The researchers said that burden is especially severe in rural communities, where patients often face long travel distances, limited access to clinicians, food insecurity and fewer opportunities for diabetes education. Caroline Brock, a public health master’s student and co-author, said those barriers make it harder for people to receive the steady support they need.
The study followed 27 patients taking part in Diabetes Solutions, a telehealth diabetes self-management education and support programme run in Mississippi. Participants said the strongest part of the service was the personal connection with coaches who listened without judgement and helped them work through everyday problems. Catherine Moring, programme coordinator for Diabetes Solutions, said understanding why people join, stay involved or drop out is just as important as tracking clinical measures such as HbA1c, which shows average blood sugar over time.
The findings add to earlier evidence that telehealth can improve diabetes care in underserved areas. A 2020 Mississippi Diabetes Telehealth Network study reported better outcomes, including lower HbA1c levels and improvements in cholesterol and kidney function, while an earlier telemedicine study in rural South Carolina also found gains in self-management and glucose control. Allison Ford-Wade, chair and professor of public health, said telehealth may be the most realistic way to reach patients across a state where some live miles from the nearest clinician.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
