Diabetes is a progressive disease; therefore, a single treatment regimen cannot be followed for long. Also it is a complex disease with genetic predisposition; hence, a single therapeutic regimen is not applicable in all cases.
The prevalence of diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, resulting in an enormous increase in the need for dialysis and coronary artery bypass grafts. Treatments are also needed for eye disease ,neuropathy, sexual dysfunction depression and leg ulcers. According to the international Diabetes Federation (IDF), in 2011, the number of persons suffering from diabetes in india was 61.3 million and is estimated to reach 101.2 million by 2030. Diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder, with a multitude of components, one of which is the elevation or excursion in blood sugar .The complexity of the disease urgently requires technological interventions to be a part of day to day management in the absence of which the therapy fails, as is happening with more than 80 % of patients on conventional diabetes treatment.
After the publication of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) with type 1 diabetes , and the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) with type 2 diabetes, the management of diabetes has radically changed in the past decade. Now, self –monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) with a glucometer , has become indispensable, whatever may be the type and stage of the illness. Technology in diabetes is linked to blood glucose monitoring and delivery devices. Blood Glucose monitors and insulin pens have been popular for years. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and insulin pump therapy are being incorporated gradually and systematically into routine diabetes therapy. The idea behind incorporating technology in diabetes care is to ensure success in maintaining healthy levels of HbA1c,blood pressure and LDL cholesterol thereby , preventing the onset of micro and macro vascular complications of diabetes.
Diabetes is a progressive disease therefore a single treatment regimen cannot be followed for long Also, it is a complex disease with genetic predisposition hence , a single therapeutic regimen is not applicable in all cases.CGM replaces the pricking of a finger tip to get a drop of blood , which is used ia a glucometer to measure the blood glucose with a stand alone tiny sensor needle with measures up to 288 blood glucose values over a period of 24 hours and can be situ from three days to three weeks. This device can be used as a blindor a real time device where the patient will be able to see the change in the blood glucose trends, the lows the highs , the excursions, the trend during sleep etc, This is the first in a series of columns that will deal with technological innovations in diabetes.