Diabetes, with its complex and unpredictable health needs, high risk of complications, and long-term health effects, is a daunting condition to manage. Fortunately, new innovations in diabetes technology are bringing hope and improving the quality of life for people with the disease. From advanced continuous glucose monitoring systems to artificial pancreases and more, diabetes technology is evolving to help people with the disease better manage their blood sugar levels.
With new innovations comes a multitude of new possibilities – from helping individuals with diabetes eat healthier and avoid dangerous spikes in blood sugar to enabling them to live more active and independent lives. But what is coming next in diabetes technology?
What will be the biggest advancements? What new products are being developed? And what can individuals with diabetes expect to see in the near future and beyond? To help you keep up with the latest innovations and bring you the best tools for your diabetes management, we have compiled a list of the top new diabetes technology innovations expected to hit the market shortly. So, without any further ado, let’s get started!
Tandem Diabetes Care
Tandem Diabetes Care is a leader in digital diabetes technology and is developing an artificial pancreas (AP) system. The company is currently testing its AP software and hardware, which are set to launch by 2023. An artificial pancreas consists of both hardware and software components. The latest advancements have been focused on advancing existing sensor technology (such as advanced continuous glucose monitoring systems, or CGM’s) while continuing research on various methods for communicating with insulin pumps – everything that is needed for an artificial pancreas system. The goal of a fully-functioning AP system would be to automate blood sugar management for individuals with type 1 diabetes.
Tandem Diabetes Care’s Mobile Bolusing by Phone
As part of their AP system, Tandem is developing a technology that allows for advanced users with type 1 diabetes to bolus insulin using only a smartphone – without manual input from another person. This feature would be available through an application that would connect directly with an artificial pancreas device.
The application would communicate directly with a sensor and pump – working similar to how existing insulin pump and CGM systems work together today (measuring blood sugar levels and communicating actionable information back-and-forth). However, rather than typing into a pump or glucose meter, users will provide information verbally via phone calls or video calls.
Tandem Mobi, formerly Known As t:sport
Mobile Bolusing by Phone or t:sport is a glucose monitor system designed specifically for use during exercise, physical activity, and sport. This system is one of two continuous glucose monitor systems made by Tandem Diabetes Care (the other being t:connect). Both systems are used with an artificial pancreas system and can be paired directly with a smartphone. With mobile bolusing by phone, users will provide information regarding their workouts through voice-activated commands into a phone or video call. The device will then determine how much insulin should be given to help manage blood sugar levels before, during, and after exercise.
Omnipod 5 Tubeless System
Life can get quite complicated when you have diabetes. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The most complex task of daily diabetes management is insulin dosing and administration. This can be a daunting process, especially if your pancreas isn’t functioning properly or if you have other health conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, or heart disease – all of which are associated with type 2 diabetes and are made worse by poor blood sugar control.
The smallest error could put your long-term health at risk. And while technology is constantly improving and simplifying the lives of people with diabetes (such as CGM systems and artificial pancreas), finding ways to simplify insulin administration has been more challenging – until now!
Insulet Corp’s Omnipod 5 Tubeless System is a tubeless CGM system for individuals living with diabetes who require frequent changes in their insulin dose throughout each day. Currently, under development, an OmniPod Flex reservoir will be able to hold 300 units of fast-acting insulin (such as Humalog). Reservoirs will communicate directly with an existing OmniPod pump or t:slim pump through wireless communication. Users will be able to change insulin on the go without fear of delivering too much or too little.
Additionally, once the sensor predicts a drop in blood sugar level, automatic correction boluses can be delivered directly into any existing OmniPod Insulin Pump system. If you’ve had issues with administering multiple boluses over time because they’re difficult to figure out how much insulin each one contains and how many carbs they cover, then you’re going to love Tandem Diabetes Care’s upcoming tubeless CGM device/system.
Medtronic Minimed 780 and Guardian 4 CGM Sensor
The Medtronic MiniMed Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGM) is a glucose monitoring system designed for individuals living with diabetes who require frequent changes in their insulin dose throughout each day. The MiniMed continuous glucose monitoring system uses a sensor implanted beneath your skin, which measures blood sugar levels every five minutes, day and night. Results are then transmitted wirelessly through an antenna into any compatible handheld device or pump – such as insulin pumps, smartphones, PDAs, etc.
Using mobile bolusing by phone will allow you to lower your risk of hypoglycemia if you are able to administer additional insulin during exercise or after eating a meal. In fact, many patients aren’t even aware that they’re experiencing a hypo until it’s too late, and they find themselves feeling dizzy or unable to focus clearly. By proactively lowering your insulin levels when blood sugar begins to drop, future episodes can be prevented before they even happen! Devices like these may be available as early as 2022!
Dexcom G7 (Disposable CGM)
Boasting three months of battery life, a 640-hour memory capacity, and an accuracy rate comparable to that of Freestyle Libre, Dexcom’s upcoming next-generation CGM will replace their popular G6 model. Looking for all kinds of improvements? There are plenty! Read on!
1) No more worn transmitter
This device will be implanted subcutaneously with no external transmitter needed.
2) Longer lasting batteries
The sensor itself will operate for up to 7 days with no need for replacement; it is then removed and replaced by a new one.
3) Better accuracy
At ~97% accurate relative to blood glucose meter values, it’ll provide some of the most precise results around. Vin Agarwal of Diabetes 365 tells us “with the continued advancement of CGM’s people with diabetes are able to improve their control of diabetes. Because of this, insurance companies are taking notice. Those who use diabetes technology may be offered lower life insurance rates. As an example, life insurance for type 2 diabetics may be 15% lower.”
FreeStyle Libre 3 (Flash Glucose Monitoring)
Currently marketed as FGM and not intended for people with type 1 diabetes, Freestyle Libre looks set to offer an alternative option for those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who require some extra help managing their disease. If a recent study is anything to go by, they’ll no doubt be able to enjoy some of its potential benefits: After 90 days, participants with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes experienced a 30% drop in HbA1c levels! For many people living with type 2 diabetes today, two major issues are hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia – both of which can result in hospitalizations, ER visits, or even death.
Conclusion
Overall, it looks like we’re on track for some great advancements in diabetes technology over the next few years! Living with diabetes is challenging enough, so any type of technology that can make life easier is a welcome site. If you were asked what you’d most like to see made possible using diabetes technology right now, what would it be? And why? Share your thoughts with us below!