CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORING DEVICES, HOW USEFUL, HOW COMMON?

Continuous Glucose monitoring Devices are recent phenomenon in diabetes management (CGMD). This devices are products of painstaking research effort towards improved glucose control in people living with diabetes.
They come in different shapes, sizes and functions but the entire goal is the same. It enable an individual knows what happens to the glucose in 24 hours of the day and there are graphic displays to further help enumerate the situation and most have alarm installed for hypoglycaemic situation and hyperglycaemic situation as well.
Persons living with diabetes are able to eat freely and yet be in control, since they can estimate their calorie needs in the day.
The challenges associated with use of this devices entails what happens when an individual goes to an environment where the devices are not available or some components like insulin differ in brand or type. The device could malfunction or get soaked in water. This situations may pose a big issue if the occur, hence it is good to always have the contact of your doctor, go with spare device and the manufacturer of such devices should ensure even distribution around the world since the World is already a global village at affordable cost with ease of access.
These devices are being improved upon almost on yearly bases yet there are many countries of this world, where this continuous glucose monitoring are mere imagination and television displays. The manufacturers of this products should do more to get this products to end users because I believe that is when the chain of production is fully complete.

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PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP SCHEME AND DIABETES CARE POSSIBLE APPROACH BY COUNTRIES OF AFRICA.

The management of Diabetes is quite expensive especially in the developing World. It is more expensive if not managed hence there is no limit to the cost until the final knock of death. The hope however is that early actions in terms of management and care always bring about notable change in outcome measures in a diabetic well being. Ideally, resources should be made available to ensure that people diagnosed with diabetes carry out blood glucose self monitoring, receive appropriate meters, strips and education free of charge. Unfortunately at this stage, such a goal is unrealistic in many Countries even though possible due to competing priorities for very limited health budgets particularly in the context of the HIV/AIDs and TB epidemics sweeping across Sub Saharan Africa.
Through public private partnership scheme, the following can be achieved:
- Provision of free glucometers and test strips and drugs for Children and Pregnant women with diabetes this will aid the fight against the upsurge in Child Maternal Mortality rate.
- Arrangement can be made with Manufacturers whereby the meters are provided free to the patient while the test strips are paid for at subsidized rate.
- In areas or institutions where meters are available, information on the importance of blood glucose self monitoring needs to be explained in a culturally appropriate manner using local languages that people can understand.
- The media should foster dialogue and initiate discuss among stake holders, interest groups and policy makers towards engineering change to best practices.

WORLD DIABETES DAY 2010 CELEBRATION A CALL TO ACTION PART 1

World Diabetes Day – a day set aside by the United Nations following resolution 61/225 on Dec 20th 2006 in conjunction with International Diabetes Federation for Diabetes Advocacy, awareness, support and care for persons Living with Diabetes and those at risk of diabetes. The beauty of this years’ celebration is that it coincides with the UN Summit year on Non communicable diseases of which diabetes mellitus is a major stateholder. It is my fervent prayers along with many other concerned persons and institutions am sure for a Global Fund to be set aside for the purpose of diabetes awareness, research, support and care to help check Diabetes edpidemic and other non communicable diseases like cancer and others.
Going through the website of International Diabetes Federation, a number of activities has been lined up to celebrate this occasion. These ranges from Walk shows, concerts, blue lighting festivities amongst others. The theme of this year’s celebration is Diabetes Education and Prevention. It is important that as we carry out our activities in line with this theme, we need not only educate people about healthy living style alone but also Education about the need for everyone to be committed to do something about Diabetes. People in Government need to make definite commitment regarding appropriate Legislation concerning sales of fast foods and beverages around junior and high grade schools ,introduction of healthy living as a subject in school curricula. Above all provision of support to persons living with Diabetes especially orphans and widows in area of procurement of drugs especially insulin and other accessories like glucometers amongst others to relieve the pressure and encourage people living with Diabetes.

ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS

The Pancreas is an organ in the body that is responsible for production of hormones particularly insulin which is important for metabolism of glucose and other food groups. Artificial Pancreas is a term widely referred to in the old as theoretical. Thanks to modern technology, it is a reality. However, I do wonder about the durability of this product. Considering the experimental work of Prof Taylor et al who developed the device from De Montfort University, Leicester, it could put an end to the daily injections people living with diabetes have to endure to regulate their blood glucose levels.
The new artificial pancreas, invented and patented by Prof Taylor, is made of a metal casing containing a supply of insulin kept in place by a gel barrier. When the body’s glucose levels drop, the gel barrier starts to liquefy and lets insulin out. The insulin feeds into the veins around the gut then into the vein to the liver, mimicking the normal process for a person with a healthy pancreas. As the insulin lowers the glucose level in the body, the gel reacts by hardening again and stopping the supply.
When Insulin came up in 1921, There was a lot of mixed feelings as regards the reliability, quality and availability. Such fears were later fixed, thanks to the commercialization of this whole process. When the Artificial pancreas eventually came to be, will it only benefit those living with type 1 diabetes or could it be modified to handle those with insulin resistance which is the case with most persons living with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes a Burning Issue on the Global Agenda, Not limited to Global health Agenda.

Incidence of diabetes is increasing Worldwide at a rate that eclipses most other diseases. The WHO estimates that by the year 2030, more than 366 million people will be living with diabetes, this is ten times the number affected by Hiv/Aids. It is even more devastating in that of this figure, more than 298 million people will be living in developing Countries, where the World is currently battling poverty and hunger amongst other challenges.
The major point is this, who will take up this diabetes challenge, why do we all seem not concerned about this epidemic yet we all are either directly or indirectly being affected by diabetes? This is a question I want to pose to every human living currently on planet earth.
As we prepare to celebrate this years’ World Diabetes Day come November 14th , with a theme ‘Diabetes Education and Prevention’, let us strife to know more about diabetes. Research has shown that with Education, Glycaemic control is improved and frank diabetes preventable.

Blood Glucose control and Meal Planning

It is quite challenging and interesting to note that many persons living with diabetes mostly consider being in charge of diabetes only when the engage in use of their drugs as recommended by the doctor. However, they are careless about what happens with their meal planning, exercise and education which are cardinal incredients in the business of blood glucose control.
Meal planning is beyond what is on the table. It is a mixture of meal timing, portion size and food composition.
Without the proper integration of this rudimen, the blood glucose will definately go up and down and the eventual stress that comes with poor glucose readings follows and if not quickly checked depression may follow.
As we engage in the business of blood glucose control today and always, let us inculcate the need for adequate and appropriate meal planning.