By James Kendrick | November 30, 2011, 6:54am PST
Summary: Diabetes is running rampant in the U. S., and treatment for the disease is evolving. Glucose meters and insulin pumps are now wireless, allowing hands-free operation 24/7.
Diabetes is a horrible disease with long-term ramifications for those afflicted. The affects on the human body of glucose levels that remain out of control for extended periods can be devastating. Those with diabetes can (and should) go to great lengths to fight the disease with every tool at their disposal. This now includes using insulin pumps that can wirelessly connect to glucose level monitors, allowing for on-the-fly doses of insulin that mimics the operation of the human body.
I was first diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a decade ago. Type 2 diabetes now afflicts over 20 million Americans, and treatment can vary from simple diet control to multiple injections of insulin daily. I have been in the insulin injection club for years, and after discussions with my healthcare provider I am considering entering the world of the “pumpers.” These are the diabetics using an insulin pump 24/7 to keep total control over their glucose level, the best way to minimize long-term complications caused by diabetes.
What does this have to to with covering mobile technology? Plenty, as my research into insulin pump technology demonstrates. Insulin pump treatment consists of two parts: the pump itself, a highly calibrated device the size of the pager of old, and glucose monitors which keep an eye on the internal blood levels at all times. These two work together through wireless communications, in a totally mobile configuration. You probably interact with folks using insulin pump technology every day, and just don’t know it.
While the insulin pump itself can be (and usually is) worn under clothing to hide it, there are glucose meters that can pair up to the pump wirelessly. These can be simple, like the meters used with the finger prick method for measuring glucose in the blood, that send the metered results to the insulin pump. Insulin dosage is adjusted appropriately based on the measured results in real-time, resulting in insulin treatment much like that of the human body. Some pumps can constantly monitor the glucose blood level in real-time and make adjustments automatically, much like the human body.
Some of these glucose meters can serve as remote controls over the insulin pump. The user can leave the pump wherever it is situated and do everything needed via the remote meter. These use Bluetooth to provide two-way communications between the two gadgets. That shows how far this mobile healthcare technology has come, when we realize they are just gadgets. Highly specialized gadgets to be sure.
Just about all modern glucose meters and insulin pumps can connect to a laptop or computer via USB to upload recorded information. This provides detailed tracking by the user, useful for determining what is happening with the diabetic’s all-important glucose level. Some of these software solutions can be remotely accessed by the healthcare provider to make proper adjustments to the treatment from afar.
I am close to determining what equipment I will be using to treat my diabetes, but nothing is finalized yet. I can use all of the advice I can get with the complicated decision process concerning the gear, so please leave a comment in the TalkBack section if you can. I am particularly eager to hear what pumps and meters others might be using, and how well that is working out.
My daughter uses the Animas Ping with the One Touch meter remote. A friend of mine has the Medtronic Paradigm with the One Touch meter that sends the blood sugar to the pump. I know other families that use the OmniPod. As the parent of a child using an insulin pump, I like the meter remote because I don’t have to have her come to me to administer her insulin dose. I like that I can send her to school with a meter other than the Ping remote, and she can take out her pump to bolus (give insulin). Those with the OmniPod MUST send their child to school with the ONLY device that will control their pump. If that device is lost, there is no way to get the Pod to deliver insulin.
If I were the person using the insulin pump, I would consider either the Animas Ping or the Medtronic. Either way, you would have to have some sort of object in your hand in order to administer the bolus, be it the meter or the pump. If you loose either meter, you can still enter your blood sugar manually after using a different meter. The features of the pump itself should be the determining factor as to which pump you choose. The Animas has a “full color” screen, this makes it VERY easy to see the pump screen in dark rooms and at night.
There are sites out there that compare and contrast the features of the various pumps. There is an online community called Type 1 Parents that can be a great source of information, as well as support. The name leads one to believe that you have to be the parent of a child with Type 1, this is not true. We have adults with Type 1, as well.
Good Luck