Endocrine Abstracts

Diabetes technologies are evolving rapidly. They offer exciting opportunities to improve patient self-care but they may also be challenging for both patients and health-care providers. Thus, the use of technology may empower or burden. To understand and benefit from the use of these technologies we must first go beyond HbA1c, understand what truly matters to our patients, and what technology can provide in this setting. Available data on the use of technology including insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), flash monitoring, wearables, web and mobile apps, as well as integrated systems will be reviewed. The review of these technologies will focus on how they may improve patient’s safety, self-efficacy, comfort and normalization. The use of these technologies is usually not optimal unless there is appropriate therapeutic education by health-care providers, the key aspects to consider in the process will also be evaluated. Clinical trial results from the use of these technologies are necessary, important and will be the basis of the review; however information and experience from true-life conditions are priceless and what makes a true expert. To provide this valuable perspective, the true-life conditions and diabetes technology expert, Adam Brown will also provide his input on how to use these technologies to improve patient self-care.