Type 1 Diabetes: New Technology Makes Managing Your Health Easier

For people with type 1 diabetes, new technology is opening up new opportunities for self-care and simplifying diabetes management. Taking a closer look at some of the latest developments can help you discover innovative ways to better manage your diabetes and support your health.

New Technology Is Transforming Type 1 Diabetes Management 

In many ways, managing diabetes has never been easier than it is today. While this is partially due to advances in diagnostics and medications, consumer-level tech is also giving people practical ways to transform their everyday routines. If you’re living with type 1 diabetes, new technology could deepen your understanding of your health and make diabetes management a more seamless part of your daily self-care.

Smart Insulin Pens

Smart, reusable insulin pens were first introduced in 2017 and have quickly gained popularity because of their personalized approach to insulin dosing. These pens send information to their corresponding apps via Bluetooth and can

• Make dosage recommendations based on your current blood sugar level, carbohydrate amounts, meal size, physical activity, and other variables;
• Notify you when your insulin has expired or exceeded its temperature range; and
• Integrate with popular diabetes data–tracking platforms. 

Before committing to a smart insulin pen, you’ll want to look into which apps and devices it integrates with.

Smartwatches

Smartwatches can benefit people with type 1 diabetes in a variety of ways:

• Encourage an active lifestyle: From tracking your steps to reminding you to get moving to allowing you to use specialized fitness apps, a smartwatch can help you stay active.  
• Provide health insights: Some smartwatches can collect and analyze data on a variety of health-related variables, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep habits. These insights can help you better understand your health and make informed decisions about your well-being.
• Keep you on schedule: Setting reminders to take medications and insulin, check your blood sugar, and do other important daily self-care tasks on your smartwatch can help you stay on track.

Insulin Patch Pumps

Insulin patch pumps are easier to use, more discreet, smaller, and often more affordable than conventional insulin pumps. While conventional pumps are tethered and need to be worn on a belt or carried in your pocket, patch pumps do not. A patch pump refers to an insulin reservoir device that attaches directly to the skin. Typically, they have a cannula that goes directly from the device to the skin with no additional tubing. The entire assembly, or device, is adhered to the skin via an adhesive patch. To use a patch pump, you simply push a button to deliver a dose of insulin under the skin.

As with any new diabetes technologies, be sure to do your research and ask your healthcare team about any new developments that may be right for you.

Automatic Blood Glucose Monitor (ABGM)

POGO Automatic® is the first and only ABGM system with 10-test cartridge technology that automatically lances and collects blood at the push of a button and is an innovative alternative to a traditional blood glucose meter (BGM). Unlike a traditional BGM, POGO Automatic does not require separate lancets and test strips. Instead, the lancets and cartridges are built into multi-test cartridges so you can check your blood sugar in a single step.

The simplicity of POGO Automatic makes it easy to stay on track with monitoring no matter where you are. You don’t have to keep track of multiple components or find a private place to check your blood sugar. You just press a button and get accurate results quickly.

Health Apps

In recent years, the market for health apps—including those designed specifically for people with diabetes—has exploded. A study published in 2019 found that among people with type 1 diabetes, more than half used apps to help manage life with their condition, and that number is only expected to grow. From food and exercise tracking to purpose-built diabetes management tools that recommend insulin doses, that remind you to take medications, or that alert you to potential blood sugar events, apps can make living with type 1 diabetes easier.

Type 1 Diabetes: New Technology Is the Way Forward

Finding a better and more convenient way to manage your diabetes and your overall health is becoming easier with advancing technology. For people living with type 1 diabetes, new technology can be a powerful tool for improving daily routines, gaining deeper knowledge, and supporting long-term wellness. Talk to your healthcare team to discuss any new technologies you’re interested in integrating into your diabetes management plan to ensure they’re right for you.

Jaclyn Owens Jaclyn Owens is a product director specializing in diabetes management tools. She is committed to using technology to empower people with diabetes and help them take control of their health.

All content on this website is for educational purposes only and does not replace the guidance of your healthcare practitioner. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.