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How digital health solutions for diabetes can make life easier

Digital technology is advancing in almost every aspect of life, and managing diabetes is no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a dramatic advance in digital health and health technologies, largely because of social distancing requirements.1 Diabetes is well-suited to digital monitoring, apps and online tools, and diabetes technology is developing at an extremely rapid pace.2 With support from your doctor and diabetes educator, this new technology is not difficult to understand. It could make it easier for you to manage your diabetes, helping you feel more in control.

The rapid advances in digital health have given many people new and different ways to help them manage their diabetes.3 With digital monitoring devices and diabetes apps on smartphones, you can access more information than ever before, which can give you more support in everyday life.4 Digital health and health technologies are going to play an increasingly important role in diabetes management.4

So, with these new advancements, what choices do you have, and how can this new technology help you control your diabetes?

Are you aware of cardiovascular risk?

People with type 2 diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to someone living without diabetes. 11,12

Learn how you can reduce the risk.

Real-time blood glucose (sugar) tracking

Traditionally, self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) devices have been used to test blood sugar at home using glucose test strips to take a snapshot of your blood glucose levels at a single point in time.5 But you need to prick your finger and physically take several readings throughout the day.5

More recently, devices have been developed that allow real-time 24-hour monitoring of your blood glucose levels, called continuous glucose monitors (CGM).2,6 A CGM device takes your ‘interstitial’ glucose measurements using a small sensor attached to your body through a tiny wire just under the skin.

Interstitial glucose sounds complicated but all it means is that the monitor measures the sugar level in the fluid under your skin rather than directly from your blood.2 The sensor sends this information to a reader which then shows the numbers and stores all the data.2 CGMs allow you to quickly check your glucose levels without having to do finger pricks, as they track your glucose levels continuously, around the clock. This gives you a more accurate understanding of your day-to-day fluctuations.6

The data from a CGM is sent to your smartphone app or reader, providing useful insights to help you increase your understanding of your daily sugar patterns and manage your diabetes better. CGMs can show you lots of different useful measures, including:6

  • Current and average glucose levels
  • How much your glucose levels vary (known as glycaemic variability)
  • Trend arrows that show if your glucose levels are going up or down
  • The amount of time you spend within, above, or below your target glucose range (known by the medical profession as Time in Range, Time Above Range and Time Below Range)

Are you aware of cardiovascular risk?

People with type 2 diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to someone living without diabetes. 11,12

Learn how you can reduce the risk.

Understanding how you can manage your diabetes

About diabetes

About diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a complex chronic disease that occurs when the body cannot make enough insulin. In contrast, type 1 diabetes is a lifelong disease that affects the body’s ability to convert glucose from food into energy. Read more about diabetes in general here. 

Living with diabetes

Living with diabetes

Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can be overwhelming at first. We have gathered articles and tips to help you manage your type of diabetes – ranging from diet and exercise to tips and recipes.

Treatment of diabetes
1 min. read

Treatment of diabetes

People living with type 2 diabetes need treatment to keep their insulin and blood glucose levels under control. This can help prevent long-term complications. Read more about treating type 2 diabetes as well as managing it through lifestyle and diet here.

Using data to support your diabetes control

It is easy to ‘turn off’ when data is mentioned. But getting more information about your glucose levels could help you manage your diabetes better. The ability to check your glucose (sugar) levels easily and quickly can build a sense of control.7 CGMs have alarms that can help you avoid both low sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) and high sugar levels (hyperglycaemia). Avoiding lows and highs can reduce your risk of complications in the future.6,7 People using digital health solutions, such as CGMs, have said that these devices have helped them adopt a healthier lifestyle.8

Would a digital device motivate you to go for a walk or swap a piece of cake for a healthier option?

Everyone’s diabetes is different, and CGMs allow a more flexible and personalised approach to your diabetes.6 Continuous glucose monitoring can also help you to have better conversations with your healthcare professional.6 The measurements and insights from your CGM monitor are automatically made into an easy-to-read report which you can discuss and then use to make decisions together about managing your diabetes.6

Time in Range (TiR) is one CGM measure that can help you keep track of and manage your glucose variations. Time in Range uses the numbers from your CGM to show how much time you spend in your target blood glucose range. For most people, this is between (3.9–10 mmol/l).6 During the global pandemic, many people successfully used digital health and TiR to monitor their glucose levels, and it has been suggested that the new measure could help give people more control over their diabetes.9,10

Experts recommend that if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, most people should spend at least 17 hours (70%) of their day within this range.6 (Check with your doctor for your personal target).

Have a look at this article to read more about the new diabetes measurement Time in Range.

CGMs and Time in Range (TiR) are just some examples of diabetes digital health that can help you better manage your diabetes.6 There are other innovations on the horizon.4 By using diabetes monitoring devices like CGMs that connect to a smartphone or tablet, you can stay on track hour by hour with your glucose (sugar) levels.6 By using Time in Range (TiR), with the support of your healthcare professional, you can make treatment decisions and personalised choices about your diet and lifestyle that work for you. And you don’t need to wait until your next appointment to see how you’re doing; with a CGM you can monitor your diabetes every day.7 A quick look at this article will help you understand more about how digital health can help you manage your diabetes.

January 2024. IE23DI00214

References
  1. Peek N, Sujan M, Scott P. Digital health and care in pandemic times: impact of COVID-19. BMJ Health Care Inform 2020;27(1):e100166.
  2. American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Technology: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes 2022. Diabetes Care 2022; 45 (Suppl 1):S1-S264.
  3. Danne T,et al. Telemonitoring, Telemedicine and Time in Range During the Pandemic: Paradigm Change for Diabetes Risk Management in the Post-COVID Future. Diabetes Ther 2021 Sep;12(9):2289-2310.
  4. Alcanatara-Aragon V. Improving patient self-care using diabetes technologies. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2019, Vol. 10: 1–11 DOI: 10.1177/2042018818824215
  5. Benjamin EM. Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose: The Basics. Clinical Diabetes 2002; 20(1):45–47.
  6. Battelino T, Danne T, Bergenstal RM, et al. Clinical Targets for Continuous Glucose Monitoring Data Interpretation: Recommendations From the International Consensus on Time in Range. Diabetes Care 2019; 42(8):1593-1603.
  7. Novo Nordisk. Data on file: TIR Patient Qualitative Research Global Summary Report. Data collection 2021–2022.
  8. Ehrhardt et al. CGM as a behavior modification tool. Clin Diabetes 2020 Apr;38(2):126-131. doi: 10.2337/cd19-0037.
  9. van der Linden J et al. Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic and Its Impact on Time in Range. Diabetes Technol Ther 2021; 23(S1): S1–S7.
  10. Garg S, Norman GJ. Impact of COVID-19 on Health Economics and Technology of Diabetes Care: Use Cases of Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Transform Health Care During a Global Pandemic. Diabetes Technol Ther 2021; 23(S1): S15–S20.
  11. Almdal T, Scharling H, Jensen JS, et al. The independent effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on ischemic heart disease, stroke, and death: a population-based study of 13,000 men and women with 20 years of follow-up. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:1422–1426 : https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/217184
  12. Fox CS, Coady S, Sorlie PD, et al. Trends in cardiovascular complications of diabetes. JAMA. 2004;292:2495–2499. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/199831