National Diabetes week runs from 14 – 20th July 2024. This year, Diabetes Australia are shining a light on the impact of diabetes tech and what needs to be to improve access. The focus, this year is on people living with diabetes and giving them access to the life-saving technology they need to live well.
To mark the beginning of Diabetes Week, and to contribute to Diabetes Australia's essential cause, we explore some of the reported benefits that a continuing glucose monitor can offer for individuals with type 2 diabetes and even those who haven’t yet been diagnosed but may be at risk of developing this condition.
The Doctor’s Kitchen Australia has recently developed a unique program to help address the rising prevalence of Australians who are living in a pre-diabetes / early diabetes state or suffering from type 2 diabetes.
The three (3) levels of programs which are personalised depending on the stage of the condition and run over 12 intensive weeks (with 9 months continuous support) offers Australians who are at high risk of or suffering from Type 2 Diabetes (with or without insulin dependence) a new medical doorway to prevent and change their health and manage their condition. Importantly, these programs integrate the use of real time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology to help individuals suffering from this condition better understand and manage their condition.
Here are some of the reported benefits that CGMs can provide especially to individuals suffering from diabetes:
- Real-Time Glucose Montioring: Real time glucose monitoring provide continuous readings of glucose levels throughout the day and night. This allows for better awareness of glucose trends and helps in understanding how different foods, activities, and medications affect blood sugar levels.
- Immediate Alerts: CGMs can alert the user when glucose levels are too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia), providing an opportunity to take corrective action promptly. This can help prevent severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia episodes.
- Reduced Need for Fingerprick Testing: While fingerstick testing is still necessary for calibration and confirmation purposes, CGMs may reduce the frequency of fingersticks required for glucose monitoring.
- Trend Analysis: CGMs provide data on glucose trends over time, showing patterns that may not be apparent with occasional fingerstick testing. This information can help healthcare providers make more informed decisions about diabetes management strategies.
- Improved Diabetes Management: By having more comprehensive and real-time data, individuals with type 2 diabetes and their healthcare providers can make more timely adjustments to diet, exercise, medication, and insulin dosing. This personalised approach can lead to better overall glucose control and potentially reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.
- Enhanced Quality of Life: CGMs can reduce the burden of frequent glucose monitoring, decrease anxiety related to glucose fluctuations, and improve sleep quality by providing alerts during the night.
- Education and Empowerment: CGMs help users gain a deeper understanding of their diabetes management by visualising the impact of lifestyle choices on glucose levels. This can empower individuals to make more informed decisions and take an active role in managing their health.
CGMs are valuable tools that can help improve the management and outcomes of type 2 diabetes by providing continuous and actionable glucose data. CGMs enable real time evaluation of impact of activities including diet, stress and exercise on glycaemic profile and an estimate of how much glucose variability a patient may be exposed to. We stand with Diabetes Australia on this year’s cause!
You find out more about this year’s theme through Diabetes Australia here or about The Doctor's Kitchen Austraila's unique Diabetes Program here.