In recent years, new objects have made it easier for people with diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels. According to an American study, these tools remain too little known to the medical community.
About 3.7 million people are diabetic. In recent years, connected tools have been developed to facilitate the management of the disease. American researchers, attached to the Joslin Diabetes Center, conducted a vast study on these devices. They find that they are still too little known to medical teams.
How can these tools be integrated into the health system?
“Despite the potential of these programs to improve the well-being of people with diabetes and reduce the burden on healthcare professionals and systems, awareness and use of these tools is still low within the medical community” , say the researchers. They have gathered information on the different tools available for people with diabetes. For example, they studied the level of personalization of the machines or even how they were provided to patients. “How connected care should be linked to the current health system remains unclear today,” says the research team. In the worst case, these tools are used without any connection to consultations with the endocrinologist or the attending physician.
continue research
The researchers suggest carrying out new studies to better understand the impact of these new modes of treatment on the management of diabetes according to the populations. They point out that technology will inevitably be an important part of disease management in the future.
Tools acclaimed by patients
In 2017, the French Federation of Diabetics conducted a study with diabetic patients to ask them about their use of connected objects. If they continue to use them, it is mainly because they allow them to optimize the management of their disease. One of the interviewees confided: “I can go to the restaurant with less apprehension”. Patients also note that it has enabled them to improve their knowledge of themselves, to the point that these applications or objects have become essential to their daily lives.
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