Modern Advances in Diabetes Treatment Technology

Diabetes used to be a terminal condition, but advances in modern medicine have allowed those suffering from diabetes to live long and full lives. Now, as technology continues to advance and become more integrated with medicine, treating the condition is becoming more convenient and accurate. If you’re living with diabetes, some of the best innovations in diabetes management can help you in your day-to-day life. These four modern advances in diabetes treatment technology are worth exploring as they become available now and in the near future. 

Thanks to needle-free developments in blood sugar testing, you soon won’t have to worry about sticking your fingertips daily any longer. According to StatNews.com, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a test in 2017 that can monitor blood sugar levels continuously. This test uses a small sensor that’s attached to the upper arm to monitor blood sugar. Real-time glucose results can be given day and night, and a touchscreen feature allows you to monitor trends in blood sugar readings over a 90-day period. For those who have calloused fingers and are tired of keeping endless supplies of testing strips, this can be a real life-changer in treating diabetes.

Unfortunately, many in the past and a few in the present suffer kidney failure caused by their diabetes. If you rely on a dialysis machine to purify your blood, there are technologically advanced dialysis machines on the market already that can make the job easier. The Baxter Dialysis Machine is just one example of a revolutionary product that’s both portable and comes with remote monitoring features. Voice guidance on some of these machines also makes them easier to operate. Best of all, many of the newest machines allow you to perform peritoneal dialysis in the comfort of your home. This is a major advancement from previous treatment options that necessitated regular appointments to a specialized clinic.

Another needle-free solution is the insulin inhaler, which works like an asthma inhaler and allows you to get insulin into your bloodstream by simply breathing in a fine powder through your nose. The insulin powder is absorbed through the lung alveoli and passes through neighboring capillaries into the bloodstream quickly. Color coding on the inhaler makes adjusting insulin doses easier. An insulin inhaler will be especially good to use just before eating. Combined with needless blood sugar testing technologies, a relatively needle-free future is in view for those suffering from diabetes.

Researchers are working to develop a smart insulin patch that will offer an even simpler way for people to get their needed insulin. The patch is expected to work by delivering insulin through small painless needles whenever low oxygen levels indicate that blood glucose has risen and insulin is needed. Sensors in the patch will be able to provide the right amount of insulin to balance blood sugar. While patches for insulin pumps are already available, a smart patch would take this one step further and allow for a more automated treatment, rather than manually tracking and adjusting blood sugar levels throughout the day. This will especially help those families who have young children with diabetes and struggle to keep up with the tracking needs to maintain steady blood sugar levels.

Maintaining steady blood sugar levels is essential to preventing degenerative diseases in those suffering from diabetes. With ongoing advances, however, these technological innovations can make it possible for you to achieve the same levels of blood sugar stability as those without a damaged pancreas or insulin resistance. Make sure to keep up to date with these and other advances as they come into the market and discuss treatment options with a diabetes clinic so that you can take full advantage of modern medical technology.