Mankind has gone through many stages of discovery and progression in our understanding of human health and functioning. But throughout the journey, diabetes has always been a challenging disease to manage. Its roots lie in metabolism, and its symptoms include an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, nerve damage, and kidney failure. The result is a disease that can affect anyone at any stage of life and wreak havoc personally and professionally. According to a recent survey conducted by National Health and Morbidity, diabetes will affect nearly 3.9 million people in Malaysia by 2025 and is already devastating the lives of 422 million people worldwide. With such significant health and social implications, it is no wonder that diabetes is on the minds of many healthcare professionals when it comes to chronic disease management.
Unfortunately, though the current treatments for diabetes are very limited in their effectiveness, they are also very expensive and are not without side effects. It is therefore important that we develop innovative technologies to offer more holistic and effective solutions to patients with diabetes.
In the past year, research and development of wearables and other innovative technologies for diabetes management have experienced a strong upswing. Many companies and startups have come up with innovations that can be taken into daily life for the management of diabetes and are set to revolutionize our understanding of diabetes and how to manage it.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring, for example, is a premier example of how technology can assist in diabetes management. These devices are powered by biosensors and can monitor glucose data at frequent intervals. These biosensors take the form of a patch worn on the skin and attached with electrodes. When the user wears and puts on the sensors, the electrochemical reaction between the enzyme and the electrodes produces a current, which is measured and analyzed. This is much more efficient and pain-free than the traditional finger pricking method, which measures blood glucose levels. Furthering our collective understanding of the disease, these devices can show variations in blood glucose throughout the day and in specific situations – a perfect tool to help individuals with diabetes make lifestyle and dietary choices.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Rethinking Its Portability and Reliability
Driven by concern for patient well-being and continuous technological innovation, many companies have focused their efforts on continuously improving their glucose monitoring products. Once bulky, often expensive, and out of reach of many patients, these devices have now become lighter, smaller, and more portable. In short, advancements and innovations in glucose monitoring devices have vastly improved the quality of life for many patients. Further, by empowering individuals to gain detailed insights, including but not limited to blood glucose levels, trends and patterns, insulin needs, diet, and exercise, these devices assist patients to take the first step towards better self-management, prevention, early treatment, and reduction of complications. All these without needing any repeated painful blood tests. Thus, it can safely be said that Continuous Glucose Monitoring devices are key in advancing digital health, improving patient experiences and outcomes, and ultimately improving healthcare systems.
Abbott FreeStyle Libre as an Innovative Continuous Glucose Monitoring solution has proven it’s reliable and accurate across populations and all age groups. It fully automates the blood glucose testing procedure and can be customized for individual needs. It is easy to use, requires no additional fingerstick calibration, and can be worn at the back of the upper arm without feeling claustrophobic or discomfort. With proven accuracy, Abbott FreeStyle Libre provides patients with the confidence to better manage their diabetes anytime and anywhere. Its patented technology actively monitors glucose levels without user interaction and alerts the user when hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) is detected. The wearer can then use a quick-response device to deliver fast and effective insulin therapy, which can be prescribed by a healthcare professional.
With continuous glucose monitoring being one of the many goals of diabetes management, the need for wearable technology to assist has become more apparent. Wearable tech not only acts as a complement to regular professionally supervised healthcare management but also provides valuable insight into personal health data that can assist with managing the disease. With advancements in wearable technology, we now have smartwatches, smart bands, smart socks, and smart clothes. These devices track activity, sleep, and eating habits and can even be programmed to send a notification if you have been inactive for too long or if the pattern changes too much. Wearable tech can be used to monitor health data for continuous glucose monitoring as well. Smartphones and tablets can now be equipped with specialized apps and widgets to assist with data analysis and notifications. With these tools, patients can track their blood glucose levels, set goals, and receive personalized feedback on how they are doing.
In addition to helping people with Diabetes manage their condition better, using diabetes related technology may even save you money on health and life insurance premiums. Matt Schmidt of Diabetes Life Solutions notes “many insurance providers are now offering discounted premiums to the Diabetes community, if they are using technology. Statistics now show that those with Diabetes who use technology tend to have a lower A1C reading, and also better overall control of their condition. Because of this, many people will qualify for lower premiums. Life insurance with diabetes is almost always more expensive, so utilizing technology is a great way to help lower your rates.”
Your Journey to Live Free, With Diabetes
Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre system, with its continued innovation, personalized healthcare and potential to transform the lives of people with diabetes, has received tremendous recognition and acclaim and has proven its impact. The system, based on its innovative approach to measuring glucose levels in the wearer’s interstitial fluid, does more than just prevent the painstaking process of finger-prick testing. It actually allows you to test your glucose levels anytime, anywhere and provides continuous glucose monitoring that can be detrimental to patient health if used improperly. Its benefits can be summed up in three words: peace of mind, convenience, and freedom.
Moreover, its mobility, affordability, and accessibility make it the ideal solution for people living with diabetes – at home or away from home. Furthermore, this unique, targeted, and personalized solution can also empower healthcare professionals to find out more about their patient’s conditions, give them important insights, and help them make better decisions.
In a nutshell, the system is easy to use, offers an intuitive interface, and empowers individuals to take back control of their diabetes and live a normal life. And with its endless possibilities, it can certainly transform the lives of people living with diabetes.
