In How Diabetes Technology Is Changing Diabetes Care in the Real World, researchers highlighted some of the innovative devices and programs revolutionizing diabetes care, among them continuous glucose monitors (CGM) that collect data over time with a wearable device that automatically tracks a patient’s blood glucose levels.

“They provide all of us with timely, comprehensive glucose data and allow all of us—patients and providers alike—the opportunity to do experiential learning to see in real time what food is doing, what exercise is doing, what that last medication change did,” said Caitlin Nass, MSN, CRNP, University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center. “We can safely, and sometimes more aggressively, escalate or deescalate treatment because we have so much data to work with.”

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Remote patient monitoring also has proven beneficial for diabetes management. Emily E. Johnson, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), shared insights from her work with the Technology Assisted Case Management for Low-Income Adults with Type 2 Diabetes (TACM-2) program at the Telehealth Center of Excellence at MUSC.

TACM-2 helps low-income adults with type 2 diabetes living in rural, underserved areas that lack equal access to health care. Participating patients receive a two-in-one automated device that lets them check their blood glucose levels from home and transmits the data to their provider to review to identify any changes or concerns.

The program ensures participants receive the necessary tools and support to help monitor and improve their blood glucose levels at no cost to them, while giving providers the information they need to provide quality care, Dr. Johnson explained.

“They’re grateful in getting the supplies they need because it’s such a burden on them,” she said of the patients. “If they have to choose whether to buy a monitor or supply something for their family, they’re not going to purchase the monitor or their medications—or see a doctor for that matter.”

Patients who have used the program reported significant, sustained A1C improvements. At six months, the average A1C was 1.8 percent lower than when patients started and 1.3 percent lower at 12 months, Dr. Johnson noted.

Janice MacLeod, MA, RD, CDCES, FADCES, Janice MacLeod Consulting, spoke about connected insulin pens and caps.

Connected insulin pens take much of the work out of insulin injection therapy for patients by providing dose tracking and recommendations, delivering accurate insulin doses, and reminding patients when it’s time for their next dose. Additionally, the pens can ensure insulin quality and alert users if the insulin is at an unsafe temperature or is about to expire.

The data from these connected technologies has shown that missed, mistimed, and mismatched doses are quite common in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and impact A1C levels. Some studies have revealed that one in four meals was associated with a missed or late insulin dose, Dr. MacLeod noted.

“Individuals tell us that the reason that happens is because life happens, right?” she said. “Things just happen and things get disrupted, or maybe I’m in a situation where I don’t want to pull out my supplies.”

Not only do connected insulin technologies help patients with diabetes manage their insulin delivery, but they also reveal significant gaps in care and uncover new opportunities to improve care, Dr. MacLeod continued.

“I would ask all of us to be very committed to help every person with diabetes make informed decisions about diabetes technology and their therapy options, and that includes how do I want to deliver my insulin?” she said.