Medical Devices For Diabetes, Where to Start

Introduction

Diabetes is a condition marked by high blood glucose levels due to low insulin or insulin sensitivity. If not managed properly, diabetes can have major repercussions, and can even lead to life-threatening complications. Individuals with diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar levels and take their medicines or insulin regularly to manage it.

Diabetes management requires dedication and devotion to the treatment plan. This is one of the many reasons for the lack of adherence to diabetes management regimen. This is where medical devices come to the rescue. Medical devices are tools that help diagnose, prevent, treat or manage a health condition. These devices aid in diabetes control by providing easy and readily available means to monitor blood sugar levels and administer shots of insulin whenever required. Let us understand these devices one by one.

Medical Devices for Diabetes

1. Blood glucose monitor

Blood glucose monitoring is an important part of life for people with diabetes. That is why it is important to choose the right monitoring device. There are two types of blood glucose monitoring devices. The first uses a drop of blood to check the level of glucose, known as a self-monitoring blood glucose meter (SMBG), the other is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that evaluates the sugar levels continuously, day and night. An important advantage of CGM is fewer pricks. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, CGM reports your blood sugar levels in real-time, throughout the day. It sends an alert whenever the sugar goes up or down and provides insight into glucose trends. Your doctor will recommend CGM if you need it for better diabetes management. Before trying out any blood glucose monitors, you must consider the following characteristics of each to allow for better decision-making:

• Ease of use: Some meters are made for simple operation modes and have large buttons, illuminated screens and audio capabilities. You can choose the one that is suitable for you.
• Cost and insurance coverage: A good choice of a blood sugar monitor requires thorough research on what is available. It is important to make the right choice before you buy a meter as it can be quite expensive. Talk to your insurance provider to know what they cover.
• Data retrieval and sharing: While selecting a monitor, consider how it will retrieve your data and whether you can download the data to your phone or computer to make it easier for you to share it with your doctor.
• Alternate sites to draw blood: If you are unwilling to get finger pricks to monitor your blood sugar levels, there are alternative site monitors that allow you to draw blood from your palm, arm or thigh.

2. Insulin pump

Insulin pumps are extra pieces of hardware attached to your body that deliver insulin. Pumps are either programmed to deliver insulin continuously (termed ‘basal’) or as a surge (termed ‘bolus’) dose close to mealtime to control your blood sugar levels. They work by mimicking the body’s normal response to insulin.

An important thing to remember is that pumps can be quite expensive, so choose wisely. Check with your healthcare provider whether they cover insulin pumps through their plans to help save you some money. Insulin pumps are most beneficial to Type-1 Diabetics.

Before buying a pump, consult your healthcare provider. They can help you in making an informed decision. A crucial point to make note of is that you still need to check your blood sugar levels regularly, even if you are using an insulin pump. Also, learn how to use the pump correctly and check if the pump is working correctly. Your diabetes care team can help you learn the working and maintenance of insulin pumps.

3. Smart insulin pen

A smart insulin pen is an injector pen that can be used to deliver insulin. The pen is connected to a smartphone app that uses a smart system to calculate and track insulin doses and provide reminders. The device is available in the form of prefilled cartridges or as an add-on to your current insulin pen. Smart insulin pens are easy to use and offer several benefits and features for people who depend on daily insulin doses to manage their diabetes.

4. Artificial pancreas device system

An artificial pancreas is a device made of three parts that work together to mimic a healthy pancreas and regulate blood sugar levels. It is mostly used by people with type 1 diabetes. An artificial pancreas can automatically monitor your blood sugar and calculate the amount of insulin you need at different intervals. It is equipped with:

• A continuously working glucose monitor that monitors your blood glucose levels closely
• A program that calculates the amount of insulin needed
• An insulin pump to deliver the required amount of insulin

Conclusion

Familiarising yourself with the medical devices that you need can make managing diabetes a little easier. You can talk to your doctor about diabetes management tools and the available devices.

Your doctor can guide you in selecting the devices that are most suitable for you. You can also ask the doctor or nurse to teach you how to use the devices yourself, record the reading, set the needed insulin dose, and check if the device is working properly.

For devices that allow storage of data, learn how to access and share the stored data with your healthcare provider. Some of these devices are expensive, so take the input of your doctor in choosing the ones that suit your needs while being easy on your pocket.