World Health Day: the incredible technology helping to treat diabetes
It’s World Health Day, and once again the World Health Organization is calling for the healthcare sector to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing the global population: diabetes. To mark the day, we take a look at some of the innovative devices that have been developed to help treat diabetes.
Painless blood testing
Researchers from the University of Glasgow have developed a wearable sensor that could help people with chronic conditions avoid the discomfort of pin-prick blood tests.
By measuring the chemical composition of peoples’ sweat, the researchers believe clinicians could diagnose and monitor chronic conditions such as diabetes without the need for invasive blood tests.
Much like blood, sweat contains chemicals generated in the human body, including glucose and urea. Current non-invasive wearables are made from rigid materials, making it difficult to ensure constant contact with the skin. More so, wireless systems which use Bluetooth are often bulky and constantly require recharging.
The team’s system is based around a sensor capable of measuring pH levels and which can stretch to fit the contours of wearers’ bodies. The device is made from a graphite-polyurethane composite and is the size of a single square centimetre. However, the device can stretch up to 53% in length without compromising performance. The device can also reportedly work after being subjected to flexes of 30% up to 500 times, something of which allows it to be comfortably used on human skin without impacting performance.
3D printed stomach monitoring
A team of researchers from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at San Diego have created a 3D printed wearable stomach monitor.
The device consists of a 3D printed portable box connected to 10 wearable electrodes which fit on a person’s abdomen over the stomach. The system is paired with an app that lets patients log activities such as meals and sleep.
The researchers’ goal is to design an app that collects data in real-time for patients and physicians to see.
The device could be used to improve the management of patients with diabetes and Parkinson’s, as GI problems such as delayed emptying of the stomach, are common symptoms of these diseases. It could also be used to monitor the GI activity of athletes and pregnant women suffering from heartburn and other issues.
Connected insulin inhaler
Medical device maker Phillips-Medisize recently entered into an agreement with biotechnology company Dance Biopharm to develop a connected insulin inhaler.
The companies entered into a joint development agreement to work on a connected version of the Dance 501 inhaler late last year. Developed by Dance Biopharm, the small handheld electronic inhaler is designed to produce consistently sized particles of liquid insulin in the form of a soft mist.
Smarter glucose monitoring
At the start of the year, digital healthtech group DarioHealth announced the first sales of its Lightning-enabled version of its Dario blood glucose monitoring system in the UK. The Lightning-enabled device means that DarioHealth is now compatible with the latest Apple devices, including the brand-new iPhone 8 and iPhone X.
In addition, up to 300 NHS patients in England will test a new insulin pen accessory called InsulCheck Connect to help diabetes management. Innovation Zed, an Irish medtech company, announced that it is working with the NHS in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, England.
The collaboration sees the company’s insulin pen accessory used with diabetes patients as part of a national NHS Test Bed programme exploring new models of care.
InsulCheck Connect, a snap-on accessory for disposable insulin pen users, automatically collects and records pen usage and behaviour data on the go.
Another firm supplying the NHS is GlucoRx, which says it has managed to save the NHS money and offer diabetic patients a way to measure their blood glucose levels.
A ‘sleeve for the small intestine’
The Endobarrier device is being presented as an alternative to gastric bypass surgery as patients do not have to undergo invasive surgery to have it fitted. The device is made of a 60cm long sleeve that coats the inside of the small intestine. This allows food to pass through but not be digested, making people feel fuller, quicker.
The device was used in a study with the NHS at the City Hospital, Birmingham in which the outcomes of the first 31 participants were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in Lisbon.
The study, led by Dr Robert Ryder, was set up to see if the Endobarrier could help the hardest to treat cases for patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity. 50 people have had the device implanted and from the outcomes of the first 31 participants, the Endobarrier showed it could help patients lose a significant amount of weight.
The 31 participants lost an average of 15 kg, had improved blood sugar control and substantially reduced systolic blood pressure liver fat. Those taking insulin saw their daily insulin dose reduce from 100 units per day to 30.