There are more than 21 million diabetics in the United States and most of them control diabetes for many hours every day. People must maintain blood sugar levels as much as possible. However, it requires testing; proper maintenance and eating foods that can help them achieve their goal of controlling the signs of diabetes. For a lot of diabetics, controlling their blood sugar is not an easy task and they must maintain a daily routine of insulin injections, painful finger sticking and glucose tests.

Most of the people who are suffering from diabetes spend less than 30 percent of the day in controlling their blood sugars. Finger sticking is one of the processes that they need to do every day. However, it is really painful so people tend to look for other alternatives. Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), which is developed by Medtronics, can help people with their problems. This gadget allows continuous reading throughout the day making it easy for them to make a decision to respond to the reading. However, they will still need to use finger stick if they feel that they need additional insulin.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first combination of CGM and insulin pump, MiniMed Paradigm REAL of Medtronics, in April 2006. According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, it is a significant step on one of its major research priorities. It is the development of the artificial pancreas that will measure glucose automatically and deliver insulin if needed. It will not only monitor the glucose level of the user, it can also dose the patient with specific amount of insulin to respond to adverse readings given by the monitor.

With the continuous evolution of technology, new management software has been discovered. The Diabetes Information Management Software can allow the user to place information that they gathered from their glucose monitors and the software will analyze the readings. It can allow the user to know what time of the day that their blood glucose levels are near normal and when it is needed to be increased. It has been proven that patients with this kind of software have better control on their diabetes because they have accurate information with regard to their sugar levels.

Another kind of useful device is the Omnipod Insulin Management System. It is a small, disposable pump that is worn directly to the skin. It was first introduced in the market in 2005 and it has been known as the newest generation in diabetes pumps. It can be placed on the lower back, on the stomach area and the arm. Insulin will be delivered via a small cannula that is located under the skin. The patient can control the dose of the insulin through a handheld device when it is needed.


Posted by: Josly2006    Source

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