Mucroneedle Patch Could Replace Glucose Monitoring For Diabetics.
January 23, 2017 On January 4th an article entitled, H2O2-Responsive Vesicles Integrated with Transcutaneous Patches for Glucose-Mediated Insulin Delivery appeared in ACSNano, a journal published by the American Chemical Society. What is described is a self-regulated smart insulin administration system that replaces the daily routine of diabetics, the needle prick, the blood glucose readout, and administration of insulin injections. The patch is described as a transcutaneous microneedle-array which provides painless administration of insulin based on a continuous read of blood sugar levels . When the patchs sensors note a rise in blood sugar, the microneedles containing insulin release the right amount of the hormone through the skin. Compared to conventional treatment of the two types of diabetes, Type-1 (people who dont make insulin) and Type-2 (people who cant use insulin effectively), the wearer never experiences insulin highs or lows caused by spiking blood sugar levels. Insulin pumps already exist and researchers have been experimenting with transcutaneous patches for administering drugs. The insulin pumps, however, have been designed to provide a continuous delivery of the hormone without the ability to monitor blood sugar levels. With a micro-needle smart patch the glucose sensing ability means insulin is only delivered when the body needs it. Developed using diabetic mice models, the microneedles, made from a polymer containing glucose oxidase, react in the presence of detected glucose. This is the trigger that causes them to biodegrade and upon disintegration releases the insulin. This research is a multi-institute and multi-country achievement, with collaboration done by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill , North Carolina State University , and Changc Continue reading >>
7 Diabetes Technology Updates For 2018
As I gathered my notes and thoughts about the potential of diabetes technology in 2018, I kept coming back to the running list of caveats and elephants in the room. Access and affordability have been headline-generating conversations across the diabetes community this year. On one hand, it feels a little weird to talk about crazy-advanced technology that will hopefully make its way to the diabetes community next year while we’re still trying to figure out why live-sustaining medication costs as much as it does. If you are struggling to afford insulin, do you have room to get excited about automated insulin delivery? But, innovation is important. The clinical trials and resources spent developing better, smarter, faster tools are essential to the grander conversation about improving the lives of people with diabetes. This shouldn’t ignore the Very Real issues that are being discussed, so I’m going to propose we try to walk and chew gum at the same time. Yes, I want better technology to help manage my diabetes. Yes, it should be affordable so that no one is priced out of quality diabetes care. When I think about the scope and potential of diabetes technology, it’s more than just a specific product or products that may come to market. So here’s a glimpse at some of the companies and movements that I am going to pay close attention to next year as diabetes technology looks to take another major step forward in 2018. Tandem’s PLGS Algorithm PLGS, or Predictive Low Glucose Suspend, Tandem’s algorithm that will predict and prevent hypoglycemia events is coming next year. That’s a fact. What I’m curious to see is what’s next. Operating in the world of upgradeable firmware (instead of just hardware) is a bit of a new journey for consumer health technology. Wh Continue reading >>
11 Gadgets To Help Manage Diabetes
Managing diabetes is a full-time job, and you need the right tools for the task. Check out this list of gadgets that can help. Medically Reviewed by Farrokh Sohrabi, MD Sign Up for Our Living with Diabetes Newsletter Sign up for more FREE Everyday Health newsletters . Managing type 2 diabetes is a full-time job, and having the right tools can make it a lot easier. Choosing wisely from the wide array of gadgets on the market can help bring you the best results in managing your diabetes. It's important that you're comfortable with and like the tools you use. When researchers asked 35 people with diabetes to use either a smartphone app or no app to track their blood sugar for 12 weeks, they discovered that the people who said they liked the app they were using also had better A1C numbers . These findings were published in the June 2014 issue of Diabetes & Metabolism Journal . Here are 11 gadgets to consider adding to your diabetes management toolbox: Glucose tablet holder. Because some medications or a new exercise routine can put you at risk for low blood sugar, you want to carry a source of glucose with you, says Betsy Sullivan, RN, a certified diabetes educator with the Penn Rodebaugh Diabetes Center in Philadelphia. If you choose glucose pills, a tablet holder both protects them and makes them easier to find in your purse or bag. Pill organizer. Keeping track of medications and your dosing schedule is easier with a plastic organizer. There are styles with one or more compartments for each day of the week. If you have a smartphone, set an alarm to go off every time you need to take your meds. In the future, you may be able to access a digital pill organizer that can even keep your doctor informed about when you take your medications, according to research published in Continue reading >>
Cool Gadgets For People With Diabetes
When I worked as a consultant for one of the Big 5 consulting firms a few years ago, I was always traveling around the country to different destinations. At each destination, I was confronted with decisions that affected my diabetes management-or lack thereof. The main decision concerned how I would remember to check my blood-glucose levels when I was busy attending to clients, business meetings, and so on. Since I wouldnt be in my normal environment but instead would be navigating unfamiliar territory such as airports, hotels, client sites and convention centers, how would I be able to check my blood-glucose levels, let alone remember to do so on a consistent basis? If youre like me, you like gadgets and gizmos that assist you in every aspect of life-from Palm Pilots to the latest generation of blood-glucose meters. As I discovered, you can make these gadgets work for you and help manage your diabetes even while youre on vacation, taking a business trip or just hanging out at home. The answer I came up with was to use my Palm Pilot (www.palm.com/products/handhelds) to help keep my testing on track. The Palm Pilot has a built-in calendar feature that lets you set up appointments and then set a reminder to notify you of the appointments at the appropriate times. I used this feature to set up check your blood glucose reminders throughout the day. It prompted me to check my BGs and allowed me to stay focused on my work. If youd prefer an alternative to the Palm Pilot, there are many other such gadgets and gizmos that do pretty much the same thing. I currently use a Compaq iPAQ 3670 Pocket PC that has the same calendar functionality as the Palm Pilot. Whats cool about using either the Palm or the Pocket PC is that once youve set up the appointments in the calendar and sync Continue reading >>
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Make These Diy Earrings From Leftover Diabetes Gear
Brought to you by Lilly Diabetes | Disney Make These DIY Earrings From Leftover Diabetes Gear Jen Reilly, R.D., guest blogger, BitchinDiabetes. When our son Jake was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2012, I couldnt help but notice all the trash that came along with managing type 1. And honestly, some of it was too pretty to throw out! So, as soon as we got in a diabetes management groove, I took the garbage I collected and starting making earrings, bracelets, necklaces, picture frames, backpack charms, Christmas ornaments, and even light switch covers out of old supplies. I gave them as gifts to our diabetes helpers and sold them at conferences with all the profit going to research funding a cure for type 1 diabetes. Not only do I love getting creative with trash, but these little gadgets bring a positive spin and a smile to people of all ages living with type 1. In early 2017, when our daughter Annie was also diagnosed with type 1, making upcycled gadgets became a real family affair, with our two other non-type-1 kids getting involved as well. Who knew that making crafts out of used diabetes supplies could be such a family bonding experience?! If you want to give it a try, heres how to make the two most popular pairs of earrings in our collection. Theyre made with old insulin pump reservoirs, but weve also used syringe parts from pod-style pumps and plain old syringes with the needle portion removed. What You'll Need to Make Three-Bead Earrings Two 1- to 1-inch silver or gold head pins (available in the jewelry section of craft stores) Two insulin pump reservoir inserts (pull insert out of reservoir with small pliers, rinse, and dry) Two sets of 3 matching small glass, plastic, ceramic, or stone beads Two hypoallergenic stainless steel, silver, or gold earrings (at c Continue reading >>
U.s. Diabetes Patients Are About To Get Some High-tech Relief
User-friendly devices to replace old, ‘barbaric’ tools ‘This is a crossroads for diabetes technology:’ analyst Diabetes devices may be having their iPhone moment. For decades, the daily routine of diabetics involved painful needles, finger-pricking lancets and imprecise glucose meters. Now, manufacturers have begun incorporating the slick and consumer-friendly designs of Silicon Valley, linking to phones and other tech devices. “This is a crossroads for diabetes technology,’’ said Raj Denhoy, an analyst at Jefferies in New York. September marked a breakthrough in the U.S., as regulators approved the first glucose-monitoring system that doesn’t need a blood sample, the FreeStyle Libre by Abbott Laboratories. The new devices do away with fingerpricks, changing an unpleasant, several-times-a-day routine into quiet monitoring in the background through a sensor worn on the back of the upper arm. Other companies have been left behind. Johnson & Johnson is closing its insulin-pump unit after failing to keep up with Medtronic Plc. DexCom Inc., the current leader in glucose-monitoring systems, lost a third of its market value on Sept. 28 after Abbott’s Libre got approval. On DexCom’s earnings conference call Wednesday executives, peppered with questions about the Libre, said the company hopes to introduce its own fingerprick-free device before the end of 2018. The comments about next-generation monitors helped assuage investors’ concerns about DexCom’s prospects, sending the stock up 9.5 percent in the two trading days following the results. “Companies who succeed will be those who can figure out this convergence of health care and technology,” said Arda Ural, a partner at Ernst & Young LLP in New York. “And they’re very different animals to bring Continue reading >>
New Diabetes Technology At Ces 2016 | Diabetesmine
We're sorry, an error occurred. We are unable to collect your feedback at this time. However, your feedback is important to us. Please try again later. Every January, two important conferences bring together the electronics and healthcare sectors, giving us a glimpse of what's truly on the cutting edge in diabetes. The JP Morgan Healthcare conference for investors and industry execs kicked off in San Francisco this week, following last week's gi-normous Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas -- a bonanza of the latest and greatest gadgets and technology that hosts over 3,600 companies across 2.4 million square feet of expo space. Among the super-cool stuff displayed CES 2016 were a futuristic robot named Pepper ( hailed as "the closest thing to Rosie from The Jetsons yet"); countless smartwatches including the new Fitbit smartwatch; any number of new smart TVs and appliances that are all interconnected; and much, much more. Of course, healthcare has been an emerging focus at CES for about six years now with the breakout Digital Health Summit held there, and diabetes is always a key topic. Today we're looking some of the coolest announcements -- with respect to diabetes -- in the healthcare sector of CES 2016. (Stay tuned for our coverage of the JPM event early next week.) Medtronic made the biggest health headlines at CES, mainly by showcasing its partnership with IBM Watson Health originally announced in April 2014. Specifically, IBM's CEO Ginni Rometty delivered the event keynote, focusing on the cognitive computing intelligence known as IBM Watson that's being paired with medical and consumer electronic devices -- including the Minimed pump-CGM combo. Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak joined her on stage for a demo of a new app that has the capability to predict hypog Continue reading >>
The 10 Coolest Gadgets For Diabetics
Diabetes care technology has made a lot of progress in recent years. There are now a number of gadgets designed to making living with diabetes a little easier and more hassle free. Here is a look at ten current and upcoming gadgets for diabetics. iPhones do everything else, so why shouldnt they measure blood sugar? For $49.99, anyone can purchase an iBGStar meter to attach directly to their iPhone. This device not only measures blood sugar, it allows patients to track glucose levels, analyze glucose trends, and share information directly with doctors and health care providers. For just a little more than $40, you can replace your medical identification bracelet (or necklace) with a phone case that provides the same information. Paramedics and health care providers will look at your phone case just as they would search for a medical id bracelet. 3. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Insulin Pumps There is no replacement for a fully functioning pancreas, but insulin pumps that continuously monitor glucose levels are getting darn close. Some monitors now stick to your skin, wirelessly transmitting information to your insulin pump. The pump adjusts insulin levels, automatically, to maintain perfect glucose balance. Medtronic and Animas make outstanding CGM pumps. 4. Telcare Cellular-Enabled Glucose Meters Cellular-enabled glucose meters use sensors on the skin to transmit information directly to a cellular network. You can then access the information directly or send it to a health care provider. Results can be viewed on any device with an Internet connection. Most insulin pumps are limited by elaborate tubing and the fact that they cant get wet. The OmniPod solves both problems with a wireless pump and hand-held control pod. The pump, which can be worn up to three days, Continue reading >>
Diabetes Tools & Technology
Diabetes treatment has changed considerably over the years with the development of new medical technologies. From talking meters to continuous glucose monitors, learn about some of the recent innovations and find out how they can help you achieve better control. Learn about eight recent diabetes breakthroughs that are changing how the condition is managed Innovative diabetes products aim to make self-management easier. In this installment, we look at insulin delivery devices that have recently hit the market Innovative diabetes products aim to make self-management easier. In this installment, we look at lancing devices and diabetes drugs Innovative diabetes products aim to make self-management easier. In this installment, we look at mobile apps, glucose gel, and sweetener Innovative diabetes products aim to make self-management easier. In this installment, we look at glucometers and CGMs that have recently hit the market If you have diabetes, you must consistently monitor your diet, lifestyle, and glucose levels. Fortunately, technology for diabetes can help Heres our lineup of some of the best new diabetes products, tools, and gadgets that have hit the market in the last year Continue reading >>
Gadgets And Apps
There are many tools that can help make carbohydrate counting and insulin calculations easier tasks, including apps that you can download to your computer, Smart phones and iPhones. General Apps (Carb Counting and More) Android Apps BlueLoop Carb Counting with Lenny CarbControl FatSecret.com Calorie Counter Glucagon Glucose Buddy Medisafe MySugr OnTrack Diabetes iPhone Apps bant BlueLoop Carb Counting with Lenny CalorieKing CarbControl FatSecret.com Calorie Counter Diabetes Companion Diabetes Log Diabetes Pilot Glooko Glucagon Glucose Buddy Go Meals, by CalorieKing Medisafe MySugr Nutrition Database for iPhone Pumps 4 Kids (Hint: remember to change the glucose units to mg/dl) Sugar Streak Devices That Interface with Apps and Systems Accu-Check: Lets you send blood glucose test results to an app on your smart phone. CareLink: Provides a summary of all your glucose, carbohydrate, and insulin information and gives an overview of your glycemic control (daily, overnight, and at meal times). Dexcom Clarity: Allows you to upload glucose data, view the data in easy-to-read graphs, and email them to your doctor. diasend: Provides easy uploading of information from most glucose meters, insulin pumps, CGMs and mobile apps so patients and doctors can share, access and understand information. glooko: Download your diabetes device data to your iOS or Android device, integrate food and lifestyle data, and share reports with your care team. OneTouch Reveal: The One Touch Reveal App is being used a lot for the One Touch Verio Flex meter. TIDEPOOL: A variety of apps that make diabetes data easily accessible through a secure, modern platform. t:connect: A fast, easy way to display and save data from pumps, supported glucose meters and CGMs. Diabetes Calculator Click the BEGIN button below Continue reading >>
6 New Diabetes Products To Look For In 2017
If we learned anything about diabetes products in 2016, it’s that progress can happen faster than we anticipate. The diabetes community was stunned in September when the FDA announced that it had approved Medtronic Diabetes’ MiniMed 670G system, the world’s first pump/sensor system to be able to dose insulin on its own. (Advocacy works!) One of the most exciting things about the approval of Medtronic’s 670G is not only access to the groundbreaking device itself, but the path it paves for similar products – by many companies – to win approval as well. (We’re keeping an eye on Bigfoot Biomedical, Inc, the company that back in July of this year enrolled its first patients in a clinical trial for the Bigfoot smartloop automated insulin delivery system.) Now, as this year comes to a close, we’re listening to the buzz that continues to build around the new diabetes technology coming our way in 2017. The new year will bring a slate of highly anticipated products, including milestone devices like the OneTouch Via (a bolus-only delivery patch) and the above-mentioned Medtronic MiniMed 670G system (widely regarded as a rudimentary artificial pancreas). We’ve rounded up descriptions of some of the most exciting diabetes products expected to hit the market in 2017, followed by an approximate timeframe of when they’ll become available to the public. Sure, what we really want is a cure in 2017, but we’ll take improved quality of life, thanks to new devices and tech, with tremendous gratitude. Animas G5 Integrated Vibe Insulin Pump and CGM System What it is: This pump integrates Dexcom G5 technology with the Animas Vibe system. It’s especially exciting because it’s the only pump of its kind that is available to patients with type one diabetes as young as 2 ye Continue reading >>
New High-tech Tools To Help Control Diabetes
This content is selected and controlled by WebMD's editorial staff and is supported by Walgreens. High-Tech Tools to Help You Handle Diabetes By Susan Bernstein, Reviewed by Minesh Khatri, MD on October 14, 2017 Because of your diabetes, you'll want to know about tools that help you track what you eat, what your blood sugar levels are, how much you exercise, and how you feel each day. Some of these include: Smartphone, tablet, or computer apps to log your blood sugar or meals and snacks Devices that test your sugar levels every few minutes "Smart pumps" that give you insulin as your body needs it Texts, calls, or emails that remind you to test or to take your medicine If you notice patterns in your levels over time, the information can help you and your doctor better manage yourdiabetes. To find out more, you or your doctor might use a device called a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that can test your blood sugar every 5 minutes throughout the day. It tests through tiny fibers on a patch stuck on yourskin. Results are sent wirelessly to a small monitor or insulin pump. The results can help you and your doctor spot spikes after you eat certain foods or work out, or while yousleep, says Robert Vigersky, MD, medical director of Medtronic Diabetes. A continuous glucose monitor doesn't take the place of old-school testing, though. The device's maker says you need at least one finger stick every 12 hours to set the device, and suggests regular testing three to four times a day to make sure the numbers match up. New, "smartinsulinpumps" that can sync with a CGM are great for people withtype 1 diabetes, Vigersky says. "If your sugar goes too low, it will stop aninsulininfusion for 2 hours," he says. Smart pumps can help you avoid dangerous dips in your blood sugar. New smartp Continue reading >>
10 Must Have Gadgets And Apps For Diabetics
10 Must Have Gadgets and Apps for Diabetics Apps Devices Diabetes disease Gadgets healthcare Thanks to the ever-evolving technology, managing diabetes has become a lot easier. Check out the apps and gadgets to consider adding to your diabetes management toolbox. When you are first diagnosed with diabetes, you experience a range of emotions. Many questions arise in your mind How will I treat my diabetes? Can I eat sweets and chocolates? How much physical activity do I have to do? Famous celebrities like Tom Hanks, Salma Hayek, Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan too suffer from the same condition. These celebrities did not allow diabetes to overrule their lives, in fact they modified their lifestyle along with fitness routine and are leading a productive life. Isnt that good news? We agree that taking care of diabetes and getting through your daily to-do list along with other responsibilities can be challenging. There are medication doses to calculate, carbohydrates to count, and blood sugar levels to track. But with good care, you avoid diabetes-related complications and live a long and healthy life. Thanks to the ever-evolving technology, managing diabetes has become a lot easier. Numerous gadgets and apps have come up to help you with nutrition advice, carb counting, tracking blood sugar levels, medication alerts and managing kids with diabetes. Check out the apps and gadgets to consider adding to your diabetes management toolbox: MiniMed 670G This is the Worlds First Hybrid Closed Loop System for People with Type 1 Diabetes. The MiniMed 670G system is made up of an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor (CGM), both of which are already on the market separately. The new part involves the communication between the two devices. This device predicts when a persons blood su Continue reading >>
14 Gadgets And Mobile Apps That Empower Patients With Diabetes
14 Gadgets and Mobile Apps That Empower Patients With Diabetes 14 Gadgets and Mobile Apps That Empower Patients With Diabetes Emerging (and increasingly unobtrusive) technology is making it easier for people with diabetes to control insulin, plan healthy meals and manage other aspects of their condition. Diabetes comes in many forms and affects patients of all ages. It's also affecting more people every year. In 2011, the number of Americans with diabetes stood at nearly 21 million, more than triple the total in 1980. Luckily, emerging technology makes it easier than ever for patients to take control of their diabetes. The gadgets and mobile apps featured here empower patients to be active participants in diabetes self-management and provide helpful ways to look at their glucose levels and share this information with members of their healthcare team. Dr. Joseph Kim is the president of MCM Education , a publishing company that provides continuing education for physicians, nurses and pharmacists, and the founder of MedicineandTechnology.com, MedicalSmartphones.com and MobileHealthComputing.com. [ Beware the 9 warning signs of bad IT architecture and see why these 10 old-school IT principles still rule . | Sign up for CIO newsletters . ] Patients with diabetes need to check blood sugar levels on a regular basis. The iBGStar is the first glucose meter that attaches directly to the bottom of an iPhone or iPod touch. ( Prices vary but start at $49.99.) The device also works with an official Apple Lightning to 30-pin adapter cable. The iBGStar Diabetes Manager mobile app for iOS also lets patients track and share glucose levels and trends. The GoMeals mobile app by Sanofi helps patients with diabetes make healthy lifestyle choices at home or on the go. Free and available for Continue reading >>
Diabetes And The Gadget That Could End The ‘hypo’
“If I’ve had low blood sugar during the night, most of the next day is a write-off,” says Gareth Woodward. Like more than 200,000 people in the UK, 27-year-old Woodward has type 1 diabetes, where the patient’s immune system attacks the cells that make insulin. He must take regular insulin to manage his condition. If he takes too much, though, his blood sugar levels can fall, resulting in hypoglycemia, commonly known as a “hypo”. Woodward has hypos during the night up to twice a week, and about once a year, he will have severe hypoglycemia, meaning he requires help from someone else. A few of these have also ocurred at night. “I might notice him fidgeting, almost jumping around, and he’ll feel sweaty,” says his wife, Hannah. “I’ll try to wake him and if he doesn’t respond, I know he’s hypo. There have been times when I’ve had to call paramedics. It’s quite frightening.” Nights can be a particular worry if you have diabetes, but controlling blood glucose levels with insulin injections is a balancing act at any time of day. It requires constantly estimating dosage, largely based on carbohydrate intake and expenditure. No one wants a hypo, but high blood sugar is to be avoided too, because it can cause serious complications such as cardiovascular disease and kidney problems. Now, a new blood glucose monitoring device aims to make striking a balance much easier. The majority of people with type 1 diabetes in the UK test their blood around five times a day by pricking their finger and squeezing a drop on to a testing strip. The problem with that, says Pratik Choudhary, senior lecturer and consultant in diabetes at King’s College hospital in London, is that you never know what has happened between those tests. A new gadget, called the FreeStyl Continue reading >>
