More and more people are relying on their smart phones, tablets, and even smart watches to guide them through their day. Technology has permeated nearly every aspect of our lives, including how the medical community is managing and treating diseases like diabetes.

Advances in technology have decreased the pain, discomfort, and time associated with managing diabetes. There are many new technology advancements and devices on the market that make it easier, faster, and more pain-free to monitor blood sugar levels and control insulin.

3 Ways Technology Is Improving Diabetes Care and Management

For patients living with diabetes, the days of having to prick fingers to check blood sugar levels deciding the insulin dose will almost soon be history. New technology options for monitoring blood sugar levels and controlling insulin are truly amazing. Below we’ll review some technologies that we’re embracing and providing education on in order to improve the quality and care of our patients living with diabetes.

1 – Blood Glucose Meters

Recent updates and advancements to glucose meters have been focused on improving the overall user experience, with a specific focus on enhanced data management and reporting features.

In addition to improved data management and reporting, like standard deviation before and after every meal, and better tracking of lows and highs, one of the best aspects about recent meter advancements is that most are now BlueTooth compatible. BlueTooth compatibility gives patients the ability to more easily connect and interact with data in the cloud. This makes it easier for patients to view their data and share it with their doctor. BlueTooth technology also allows glucose meters to interact with other systems and technologies, giving more power and potential to these devices moving forward. Smaller amount of blood size can check from the finger and rest of the hand.

2 – Continuous Glucose Monitors

A continuous glucose monitor reports short-term trends in your blood sugar, every 1 to 5 minutes, without the inconvenience and pain of routine finger sticking.

Consisting of a sensor, a transmitter, and a receiver, continuous glucose monitors act immediately train and educate users on how boluses, exercise, carb intake, and treatment of lows and highs affect their glucose reading outputs. These monitors are much less painful and annoying than the routine finger stick as they work by inserting a small sensor beneath the skin and is usually unnoticeable to the patient.

Continuous glucose monitors work wonders in identifying undesirable blood sugar patterns because it most drastically increases the number of blood glucose readings being taken each day. While a patient will stick their finger 2 to 4 times per day, giving 2 to 4 readings, a continuous glucose monitor takes upwards of 1440 readings per day. Of course you still have to enter into the monitor what you’re eating but this technology allows for better prevention and monitoring, and makes it easier for patients to make important lifestyle changes by knowing exactly what impacts their glucose levels.

Some monitors also have the ability to alert the patient when their blood sugar is too low or too high, or is going up or down too fast. Many monitors are now water resistant and come in many different colors.

3 – Insulin Pumps

Insulin pumps have been on the market for over 30 years but they’ve also come a long way in the past few years as technology has advanced. All aspects of Insulin Pumps have improved, including ease of use, design and durability, programming features and options, alerts and warning systems, access to data, and the support being provided by manufacturers.

Insulin pumps, along with improved technology, have also given patients living with diabetes more freedom than ever before. Rather than having to monitor food intake and keep up with when their next insulin dose is due, insulin pumps allow patients to get back to a more normal life that doesn’t revolve around insulin injections. Patients that use insulin pumps are typically able to enjoy less diet restrictions as the pump, along with other technologies like continuous glucose monitoring, helps regulate glucose levels rather than patients having to manage and regulate them manually.

Are you using the latest technology to improve your life with diabetes?

We highly recommend you work with your endocrinologist to make sure you’re leveraging technology to best manage your diabetes care. At Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Obesity, Inc. both Dr. Abboud and Dr. Washington believe strongly in using and leveraging technology to improve the daily lives of our patients. As more and more people are being diagnosed, treated, and learning to manage their diabetes, the more technology is needed to make life as normal and pain-free for them as possible.