In this 'war against diabetes' there have been a lot of technological advances over the years.
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| http://2.bp.blogspot.com |
There was the insulin pump. We all know what they look like to day, pagers.
In 1963 the first insulin pump was used.
It had to be plugged into the wall at all times an was worn like a backpack.
What a hassle!
I can hardly stand being chained to the wall while my phone is charging let alone while I was hooked up to my pump.
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| http://api.ning.com/ |
It has a color touch screen and is much more user friendly to this younger more technology savoy generation.
Now, in 2014 there are even more amazing things happening in this war. More new technology... even artificial pancreases.
On diabetesmine.com an article examining the newest and coolest new technology was posted. "Diabetes Tech-Speculations for 2014 (Already Off to a Newsworthy Start!)" gives a basic overview and links to 14 technological revolutions that will be happening this year! I wont be going over all of them but here are the best ones!
The first thing it talks about is the new FDA draft guidelines for glucose meter standards. These standards are going to require all meter to be 5%-10% more accurate. Also, this draft is open for comments until April, 7th! (Or leave them here. Whichever floats your boat.)
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| http://mydario.com/ |
Ok, this next one is a glucose meter that is the size of a cigarette lighter.
It's called the Dario meter.
This little meter pops apart and plugs into the headphone jack on your smart phone. It has lancets and test strips in side and you use an app on your phone as the actual meter.
Another neat part is that it can tell when your getting low and make emergency phone calls for you.
Watch this video from the Dario website to learn even more...
Now on to what might be the most exciting part. The Artificial Pancreas. Several companies are putting artificial pancreases into controlled tests. Before we begin here is the link to the FDA page about the Artificial Pancreas Device System (APDS).
First lets talk about the one that this article features.
This system is an artificial pancreas using inhaled insulin.
HOW COOL!!
The video basically explains everything you need to know.
The inhaled insulin can be used alone. Read all about it on their website.
I love the idea of the APDS. I am not the best at remembering to take insulin or test my blood sugar all the time. I have a DexCom, and it does most of the testing for me.
Clinical Endocrinology News published an article at the end of December that goes in to amazing detail about just what exactly the APSD does and what the effects are in practical numbers that we can all relate to.
In a quote from the article they talk about time spent in target range with and with out the APSD
The closed-loop system also led to significantly more time in blood glucose targets (64% vs. 47%) and fewer nights with hypoglycemia (10% vs. 17%) over 21 days,
Wow.
The last APSD I am going to talk about is... well... a lot different.
This one is a bio-artificial pancreas. I don't know how to explain it any better than they did.
The bio-artificial pancreas contains tens of thousands of living pancreas islets harvested from pigs or live human donors. These cells would be encased in a polymer capsule, fashioned into a pancake-like patch the size of a half-dollar coin, and implanted beneath the skin. Encapsulife says this device protects the islets from a diabetic’s auto-immune system. It welcomes the patient’s digestive glucose, stimulating the islets to produce insulin and then secretes it automatically into the diabetic’s system — as would a working pancreas.I am not sure how i feel about this. I would love a whole new pancreas, but... would it work?
As of October 2013 the bio-artificial pancreas has been successful in primate trials. Keep up with the latest news about it at encapsulife.org.
The last cool new product you HAVE to know about is ShugaTrak.
2014 looks like it will be a good year for diabetics. All this technology popping up and helping us fight the daily battle of life with any type of diabetes.
Everyday we poke ourselves and inject synthetic substances into our bodies. Someday soon that could all be over. Diabetes may someday no longer be a life sentence.
