For those of us who have diabetes or loved ones with diabetes, great news in the Washington Post today: new devices promise diabetics a new measure of freedom and are expected to be widely available in the United States by late this summer. Instead of needle sticks several times a day and night, a patch worn on the abdomen carries a tiny wire that pokes through the skin to measure glucose in cellular fluid; the patch is worn for several days, wirelessly transmitting information to a receiver the size of a mobile phone, before it is replaced with a new one.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is launching a series of independent studies designed to test manufacturer claims about the new devices and provide information on their worth. Among the big questions are how much they can cut rates of hospitalization, car accidents caused by drivers with low blood sugar and the many other problems attributable to diabetes.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
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Sounds like something that the user would have to be very careful with. For example, they'd have to take care in the shower or while exercising, etc. And it sounds like insurance companies are going to be resistant, as usual, to new, more expensive technology.
BTW, my Genetics and Public Health blog that's in your blogroll has been renamed to Genetics and Health with a new URL at http://geneticsandhealth.com. And, I've also started a new blog, A Hearty Life, that focuses on cardiovascular disease. Many of the issues I address concern minority and women's heart health.
Thanks!
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