Category Archives: Diabetes

Why Global Citizens Should Care

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancers and diabetes, are now the leading cause of death in the world, according to the World Health Organizations (WHO) 2019 Global Health Estimates report published Wednesday.

The top10 diseases accounted for 55% of the 55.4 million deaths worldwide that were reported in 2019.

It is important to understand which diseases people die from to measure how people live and to ensure that health care systems areprepared to respond to patients needs, according to the WHO.

The WHOdefines NCDs as chronic diseases that are usually the result of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors. In comparison, communicable diseases are transmitted between people, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and tropical diseases.

At the global level, 7 of the 10 leading causes of death were NCDs in 2019. This is a dramatic rise from 2000, when only 4 of the top 10 diseases were classified as noncommunicable.

These new estimates are another reminder that we need to rapidly step up prevention, diagnosis,and treatment of noncommunicable diseases, WHO Director-GeneralDr. Tedros AdhanomGhebreyesussaid.

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While the WHOs list outlines the top causes of death globally, the leading causes of death within eachcountry arevaried. The causes of death across high-,middle-,and low-income countries showthe difference between lifestyle and health care around the world.

In 2019, heart disease remained the number one killer globally and accounted for 16% of total diseases around the world, according to the report.

Heart disease has been the leading cause of death globally for the last 20 years. The number of people who died from the disease in 2019 rose to almost 9 million.

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For the first time, Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia entered the top 10 causes of global death.The report also showed that women were more at risk of degenerative diseases, as 65% of Alzheimers and other forms ofdementia deaths were women.

Diabetes also entered the top 10 list in 2019. The number of people who died from the disease has increased by 70% since 2000. Men are more at risk of this disease and there was an 80% rise in death among men in the past two decades.

While Alzheimers disease, dementia, and diabetesare all classified as NCDs, none of themwere amongthe top 10 causes of death in low- or middle-income countries.

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Deaths from communicable diseases declined globally from 2000 to 2019, however, they are still a challenge in lower- and middle-income countries. In low-income countries, 6 of the top 10 causes of death were communicable diseases.

HIV/AIDS was nolonger listedamong the top 10 global diseases in 2019. Deaths from HIV/AIDS have decreased by 51% globally since 2000.However, in low-income countries, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis remainedin the top 10.

Dr. Samira Asma, assistant director-general for the division of data, analytics,and delivery for impact at the WHO, explained the importance of collecting data on worldwide deaths in the report.

The WHO Global Health Estimates are a powerful tool to maximize health and economic impact, she said. We call upon governments and stakeholders to urgently invest in data and health information systems to support timely and effective decision-making.

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Noncommunicable Diseases Like Cancer and Diabetes Are the Top Causes of Death Globally: WHO - Global Citizen

ANNAPOLIS, MDGovernor Larry Hogan today announced the commitment of more than $94 million in new investments across Maryland to help people with prediabetes and diabetes prevent or manage their disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $94 million of new investments I am announcing today will be used to help Marylanders across the state battle diabetes, said Governor Hogan. Even in the midst of a pandemic, diabetes continues to be one of the most devastating health issues in our state. And having diabetes puts individuals at risk of serious illness from COVID-19, so this comes at an important time.

There are currently more than 2.1 million Marylanders with either diabetes or prediabetes, more than 34% of the total population, and many dont even know it. Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in Maryland, and people with Type 2 diabetes have a greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Taken together, the measures being funded represent the first major community-based initiatives resulting from the Diabetes Action Plan, published last November.Developed with extensive input from community partners and diabetes experts, the Diabetes ActionPlan catalogs the state of this disease among Maryland residents and outlines comprehensive community-based prevention, management and treatment initiatives.

Todays initiatives announced by the governor include:

Regional Catalyst Grant Program

Recently the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) announced the award of its new competitive Regional Partnership Catalyst Grant Program, an investment of more than $86.3 million in Maryland hospitals and their community health resource partners to support diabetes prevention, education, and self-management training programs. The HSCRC grant provides an initial five-year funding stream to help hospitals launch interventions that can be sustained at the end of the grant.

CareFirst Investments in Community Health

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield will invest more than $6.6 million in four Maryland communities as part of a multi-year initiative to combat social and health disparities for people who are at risk for or have been diagnosed with diabetes. Thispledge will focus on steps and strategies that can be taken to intervene in areas where extensive data shows community and social factors contribute to the onset of diabetes. This work will be done in partnership with Local Health Improvement Coalitions (LHICs) and local health departments. LHICs are comprised of local partners, working with the health officers to create meaningful public-private partnerships supporting community wellness.

CHRC Partners with MDH and UMD to Support Local Health Coalitions

Marylands Community Health Resource Commission (CHRC), consistently supportive of the Diabetes Action Plan, recently awarded $1 million to Marylands local health departments to help LHICs expand capacity and build on innovative partnerships, services, and programming in communities at high-risk for diabetes.In an effort to maximize the impact of the grant funding, MDH will provide technical assistance to LHICs,in partnership with the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy in the School of Public Health, University of Maryland.

In addition, last year the CHRC issued 12 awards totaling $2.2 million to support projects in local communities in support of the Maryland Diabetes Action Plan through promoting food security and addressing other social determinants that impact diabetes.Addressing diabetes is a top funding priority of the CHRC, focusing on the Diabetes Action Plan recommendations to employ local action integrated with community approach in the fight against diabetes.

Along with these investments, Marylands Medicaid program added the National Diabetes Prevention Programs (NDPP) as a covered benefit last fall, providing both in-person and virtual access for eligible HealthChoice enrollees who may not have otherwise been able to afford it. The DPP is available through all nine of its Managed Care Organizations statewide.

Marylanders are urged to speak to their physician about their risk for diabetes, and go online to know their risk. An easy 60-second risk test from the American Diabetes Association can help everyone: https://www.diabetes.org/risk-test

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Governor Larry Hogan Announces $94 Million in Funding to Support Diabetes Prevention and Treatment for Marylanders - The Southern Maryland Chronicle

A graduate from the University of Huddersfield has designed a discrete earring that could revolutionise the management of type 1 diabetes.

And the technology could now be set for millions of pounds worth of funding after beating thousands of entries from around the world to make the final of the 2020 Global Grad Show.

Tyra Kozlow, 22, who studied product design in Huddersfield, has developed a non-invasive monitor that tests blood sugar levels and delivers feedback in real-time.

The Sense Glucose Earring, which requires a single lobe piercing, uses safe high-frequency radio waves that travel through the lobe and provide data on the characteristics of the blood.

Once the blood has been monitored, an app connected to the earring sends the user notifications from a Smartphone or Smartwatch with information on their current blood sugar levels.

The app also has the capacity to share data, analyse trends and help the user manage their condition, while the earring comes with a wireless charging case and customisable design.

Ideal diabetes management is based on finding the perfect balance of medication to keep a patient's blood sugar level in the target range in order to avoid health complications.

According to diabetes.co.uk, six out of seven teenagers struggle to get their long term blood sugar control within the target range of an HbA1c value of below 7.5 per cent.

And the inspiration for Tyra's design came about following a focus group she chaired with a group of parents whose children have type 1 diabetes.

Tyra, now a product designer at the Halifax -based Project:ff&e Ltd, was told of the stigma the group's children experienced and that they would often avoid diabetes management while with friends because they felt ashamed.

"Even though type 1 diabetes is not the fault of the person affected by it, and is not related to any behavioural patterns or choices, young people diagnosed with the condition do experience a distressing level of stigma," said Tyra, who graduated from the University of Huddersfield in July of this year.

"They can be twice as likely to have poor glycaemic control which can lead to further health problems.

"I hope Sense will help teenagers feel more in control of their diabetes and that they will feel encouraged to manage their condition around their friends as it's a piece of Smart Technology."

She added: "By making monitoring the process as easy as measuring your heart rate on a Smartwatch, I hope this will lessen the stigma so it becomes much more a part of everyday life."

The Sense Glucose Earring could now be in line to receive up to 2million in funding after making the final of the 2020 Global Grad Show.

The event is an exhibition of graduate work from the world's leading design and technology schools which aims to put graduates in touch with those who can assist with and fund their research.

This year, a total of 270 universities submitted 1,600 projects which have now been whittled down to 100.

Two designs will go on to secure as much as 2million over a ten-year fund to help bring the product to market.

You can view the shortlisted entries, here.

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The Huddersfield invented earring that could revolutionise diabetes treatment - Yorkshire Live

By: Explained Desk | Updated: December 14, 2020 8:28:30 amA significant finding of their study says that owning a dog with diabetes was associated with a 38 per cent increased risk of diabetes in the owner.(Thinkstock)

A new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) says that diabetes in dogs may indicate an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes in their owners.

The study

The study included more than 175,000 dog owners and nearly 90,000 cat owners along with their dogs and cats. The dog and cat owners included in the study were all middle-aged or older at the start of the study and were followed through for a period of six years (January 1, 2007 December 31, 2012).

Through this period, researchers analysed the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the pet owners and canine and feline diabetes in their pets.

So what does the research say?

Authors of the study, which was conducted at Uppsala University in Sweden in collaboration with three other universities, say that owners of a dog with diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than owners of a dog without diabetes. A similar shared risk of diabetes could not be detected for cat owners and their pets, the researchers have said.

What could explain this association?

A significant finding of their study says that owning a dog with diabetes was associated with a 38 per cent increased risk of diabetes in the owner. Beatrice Kennedy, one of the senior authors of the study was quoted as saying in a press release that the association of diabetes between dogs and their owners might be explained by physical activity patterns, possibly also by their shared dietary habits and adiposity. The WHO defines adiposity as having a body mass index (BMI) of over 30 kg per metre square.

Significantly, if the reason for the association of a shared risk of the disease between dogs and their owners is indeed a result of their physical activity patterns, it would also explain why the researchers did not see a shared risk association of the disease between cats and their owners. Follow Express Explained on Telegram

Humans and dogs have lived together for at least 15,000 years, and continue to share their everyday lives for better or worse. In this unique study, we show that there might be common lifestyle and environmental factors that influence the risk of diabetes in the household, both in the dogs and in their owners, Tove Fall, another author of the study was quoted as saying.

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and occurs when blood glucose or blood sugar is too high and is most likely a result of excess body weight and physical inactivity. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), this type of diabetes was seen only in adults but is now also occurring increasingly frequently in children. Overall, 422 million adults in the world have diabetes, including type 1.

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Explained: What a new study says about the shared risk of diabetes between dog and cat owners and their pets - The Indian Express

Researchers have uncovered new clues to the mystery of how the guts nervous system affects glucose metabolism in the rest of the body. Their findings could lead to new treatments for type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes causes the bodys cells to become less sensitive to signals from insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating levels of glucose in the blood.

This low sensitivity is called insulin resistance, and it keeps the cells from absorbing the extra glucose that enters the bloodstream after a meal.

Over time, high concentrations of glucose in the blood damage tissues all over the body, causing complications such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 30 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes.

Changes to the diet, exercise, and other aspects of life can improve symptoms and even reverse the condition in some people. Drugs are also available to treat type 2 diabetes, but they can cause side effects such as nausea and diarrhea.

Another drawback to some antidiabetic drugs is that they have to be injected.

Discovering oral treatments that are not only effective but also free of side effects is therefore a priority for diabetes researchers.

Now, a group of scientists, many affiliated with the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, or INSERM, in Toulouse, believe that they are a step closer to developing such a treatment. They have published their findings in the journal Gut.

This latest research builds on previous work suggesting that fat, or lipid, molecules produced by friendly gut bacteria can improve blood glucose metabolism.

These lipids are thought to influence the gut-brain axis the vital two-way communication between the brain and the guts highly developed nervous system, also known as the enteric nervous system or second brain.

In type 2 diabetes, communication between the gut and brain appears to break down. As a result, after a meal, the brain fails to send signals to the liver, muscles, and fat tissue telling them to absorb more glucose from the bloodstream. This, in turn, leads to insulin resistance.

Normally the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, signals to the brain, which involves a relaxation of the smooth muscles in its lining. In individuals with type 2 diabetes, however, these muscles are permanently contracted, or hypercontractile, so the signal is never sent.

The researchers believe that friendly gut bacteria are the key to reversing hypercontractility and restoring healthy glucose metabolism.

Nutrients that feed friendly bacteria are called prebiotics. In particular, carbohydrates called fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are known to promote the growth of bacteria that improve glucose metabolism through the production of various lipids.

However, the identity of these lipids has remained unknown until now.

To find out more, the researchers fed mice a special diet supplemented with FOS. Then, they compared the contents of their colons with those of mice that did not receive supplementary FOS.

The team discovered that the only lipid with significantly increased levels in the colons of the FOS mice was a lipid called 12-HETE.

When they fed 12-HETE to diabetic mice, the lipid not only reduced duodenal hypercontraction but also improved the mices blood glucose levels.

To explore whether these results applied to humans, the scientists analyzed biopsies from the duodenums of people with type 2 diabetes who had received antidiabetic treatments and those of healthy volunteers who had not.

They found that there was 38% less 12-HETE in the duodenums of the people with diabetes, compared with the healthy volunteers. The researchers acknowledge that this finding was not statistically significant, but also point to the small numbers of volunteers in their study.

Finally, they showed that 12-HETE reduces muscle contraction in the duodenum by boosting the signal from a nerve receptor called the mu-opioid receptor. This restored communication between the gut and the brain.

This study is one of the latest to reveal intimate relationships between the bacteria in the human gut, known collectively as the microbiota, and our health.

The scientists are optimistic that their work will inspire new treatments, which could either boost production of 12-HETE in the gut or involve taking the lipid orally, as a supplement.

In their paper, the researchers conclude:

Using a combination of nutritional and pharmacological approaches, we have identified a new mode of communication between gut microbes and the host. In addition, we have identified novel targets and their mechanisms of action in rodents, and possibly in humans. The identification of specific targets [] to treat [type 2 diabetes] and its comorbidities represent a groundbreaking solution to develop medications without side effects.

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Study reveals the role of our second brain in diabetes - Medical News Today

So many people have diabetesabout 1.5 million are diagnosed in the United States each year, and nearly 1 in 10 Americans have ityou'd think it'd be easy to spot. But although the condition is relatively common, many people go undiagnosed because the early symptoms can be vague, easily overlooked at first, or confused with other conditions.

Here from Eat This, Not That! Health are the first signals your body might send when you develop diabetes. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.

A very common early sign of diabetes, increased thirst happens because diabetes causes sugar (glucose) to build up in the bloodstream. Normally, the kidneys process glucose, but when they become overwhelmed, the excess glucose is flushed out with your urine. Water from other body tissues is pulled along with it, leaving you dehydrated and craving fluids to replace what you've lost.

The Rx: Experts such as Harvard Medical School advise drinking four to six cups of water per day. If you're hydrating adequately but you've noticed an uptick in thirst, talk with your doctor.

In early diabetes, the body will increase urine production, attempting to flush out that excess blood sugar, and you might find yourself having to go more often. "It's important to know what is normal for your body," says Leigh Tracy, RD, LDN, CDE, a registered dietitian and diabetes program coordinator at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. "The average individual urinates between seven and eight times per day, but for some, up to 10 times per day is normal."

The Rx: "If you are urinating more than your norm, and especially if you are waking up multiple times in the middle of the night to urinate, speak with your primary care physician right away," says Tracy.

Diabetes causes blood glucose to rise uncontrollably. At the same time, it prevents cells from using glucose for energy. That lack of energy can make you hungry.

Story continues

The Rx: "If you notice you're constantly hungry even though you have just eaten regular meals and snacks during the day, you should speak with your doctor," says Tracy.

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Because diabetes elevates blood sugar at the same time it prevents the body from using it for energy, that can make you fatigued. Frequent urination can also disrupt your sleep.

The Rx: There's a difference between tiredness and fatigue. Normal tiredness gets better after rest. But if you still feel worn out despite getting an adequate amount of sleep, it's worth discussing with your doctor.

According to the Mayo Clinic, high levels of blood glucose pull fluid from your tissues, including the lenses of your eyes. This can affect your ability to focus and cause blurry vision. Diabetes can also cause new blood vessels to form in the retinas, damaging established vessels. If those changes progress untreated, they can lead to vision loss.

The Rx: If you're experiencing any signs of diabetes such as blurred vision, it's important to see your doctor ASAP, and regularly if you're diagnosed. "Diabetes is a progressive disease, even in patients with excellent lifestyles," says Sarah Rettinger, MD, an endocrinologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Diabetes can make skin injuries, such as cuts and bruises, slower to heal. High blood sugar can stiffen blood vessels, slowing blood flow and preventing oxygen and nutrients from getting to cuts and bruises to heal them. Diabetes can also impair the immune system, slowing the body's natural repair processes.

The Rx: If you notice that cuts or bruises aren't healing as quickly as they have in the past, see your healthcare provider.

RELATED: Worst Things For Your HealthAccording to Doctors

Losing weight without any changes in diet or exercise may sound great, but it's the definition of too good to be true: It can signify a serious health condition such as hyperthyroidism, cancer or diabetes. When diabetics lose glucose through frequent urination, they also lose calories. Diabetes may also keep cells from absorbing glucose from food for energy, and the body may begin to burn its fat stores as fuel instead. Both can result in weight loss.

The Rx: If you're shedding pounds without trying, see your doctor and ask if you should be tested for diabetes.

Diabetes can lead to a kind of nerve damage called neuropathy, which can cause tingling or numbness in your extremities like hands or feet. This is dangerous because numbness can make cuts or injuries easier to overlook, and because diabetes can cause wounds to heal more slowly, complications can result.

The Rx: Be aware of what's going on with your body, and if you're experiencing any unusual pain, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, see a healthcare provider without delay.

RELATED: 11 Signs You Need to Go the ERBy an ER Doctor

"People often have no symptoms of diabetes," says Kristine Arthur, MD, an internist at MemorialCare Medical Group in Irvine, California. "Sometimes they may notice weight gain, persistent hunger and increased fatigue associated with high insulin levels, but these symptoms can be present in other conditions, so it is important to have blood tests done to find out what is the cause."

The Rx: Have your HgbA1c (sometimes called "A1c") levels checked with a blood test every year during your routine checkup.

And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

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Here Are The Early Signs of Diabetes - Yahoo Lifestyle

Technology for treating type 1 diabetes is becoming easier to use, an especially beneficial change for teens and young adults, according to a recent study published in JAMA.

The clinical trial, conducted at Stanford Medicine and 13 other U.S. institutions, analyzed whether the newest continuous blood glucose monitors are helpful for patients aged 14 to 24. The monitors rely on a wearable sensor that measures blood-sugar levels once every five minutes and sends the readings to a receiver or smartphone.

The study found that teens and young adults using these monitors had better long-term blood sugar control than those who used manual blood-sugar monitoring. That's big news because teens and young adults tend to have the most difficulty with blood-sugar control, said study co-author Priya Prahalad, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist at Stanford Children's Health.

"A big struggle exists for this age group: They want to be just like their friends, to live a normal life and snack and eat like their friends do, and they're self-conscious about being different from their peers," Prahalad said.

With the new technology, instead of pulling out a glucometer, teens can check their blood sugars discreetly with a quick peek at their phones.

Type 1 diabetes interferes with the body's ability to make insulin, a hormone that helps glucose -- the main sugar in blood -- move into muscle and other tissues for use as an energy source.

People with type 1 diabetes must check their blood sugar levels several times per day, including before eating, then calculate how much insulin to inject. Handheld glucometers require frequent, painful finger pricks to get a drop of blood for testing. Also, because middle-of-the-night checks are needed to catch dangerously low sugar levels, it's difficult for patients and their parents to get a good night's sleep.

The newest continuous glucose monitoring systems rely on a wearable sensor with a thin platinum wire inserted just under the patient's skin, so patients don't have to prick their fingers.

The wire stays in place for 10 days, including while patients are bathing or swimming; changing it out is about as painful as an insulin injection, Prahalad said. The system records blood glucose once every five minutes, or 288 times per day. Patients can easily share the data by having it sent to a parent's phone as well as their own.

In the new study, 153 participants were randomly assigned to use either continuous monitoring systems or a handheld glucometer for six months. Most patients were consistent about using the automated technology until the end of the trial. For those who were, glycated hemoglobin levels, an indicator of long-term blood glucose control, were lower.

There are even bigger improvements ahead, Prahalad said.

"We're in a phase of diabetes research where we are developing more automated insulin-delivery systems, with insulin pumps that use continuous glucose monitoring as a key component," she said.

Using continuous monitoring sets teens and young adults up to take advantage of the next wave of "smart" diabetes devices, she said, adding "This is the future of diabetes care."

Photo by Yura Fresh

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Easier-to-use technology helps young people with type 1 diabetes - Scope

Highlights

It would not be an exaggeration to say that diabetes has been one of the most talked about health conditions, as far as this decade is concerned. Of course, the condition is not new, but the rise in number of people, especially young people, being diagnosed with the metabolic condition has been a worrisome affair. A study, published in the Lancet Journal in the year 2018, predicted that about 98 million Indians stand at a risk of developing diabetes by the year 2030.

(Also Read:Diabetes Diet: Neem Tea May Help Manage Blood Sugar Levels - Recipe Inside)

Diabetes is a condition where your body is either not producing enough insulin, or not responding to the insulin produced. Unfortunately, there are not many known treatments to reverse the condition, so all you can do is manage the symptoms by eating right and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Diabetics should include more and more fibre-rich foods in their diet. This is because fibre-rich foods digest slowly and thus enable slow release of sugar in the bloodstream, and keep blood sugar spikes in control.

(Also Read:Diabetes Diet: 17 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Snack Ideas To Manage Blood Sugar Levels)

Take a note of the time when you are checking your blood sugarsPhoto Credit: iStock

Diabetes Diet:

If you look around, you would find plenty of natural food sources for good quality fibre. Most fruits and green vegetables are enriched with fibre, even the legumes like chana and rajma are not far behind. Not just fibre chana (chickpea) and rajma (kidney beans) are also good sources of protein and inflammation-fighting antioxidants. While you know very well how to use them to make delightful curries, have you ever tried whipping up a quick chaat using the two? Here's a toothsome recipe you would thank us for.

Diabetes Diet: How To Make Chana-Rajma Chaat

Ingredients:

Promoted

Method:1. In a large mixing bowl, add the chana and rajma together. Then add the tomatoes, onions and sweet potatoes.2. Now, throw in the coriander leaves, chutney, chaat masala and mix everything well.3. Top it up with a pinch of lemon juice and chomp away.

Try making this chaat at home, and do not refrain from experimenting. You can add and eliminate ingredients of your choice. It is your chaat after all! Do tell us how you liked it in the comments below.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

About Sushmita SenguptaSharing a strong penchant for food, Sushmita loves all things good, cheesy and greasy. Her other favourite pastime activities other than discussing food includes, reading, watching movies and binge-watching TV shows.

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Diabetes? This Rajma And Chana Chaat Could Be The Yummiest Addition To Your Diet - NDTV Food

Martin Gerber, global head of innovation at Ascensia Diabetes Care, writes about the use of digital health technology in helping treating diabetes patients.

The number of mobile health (mHealth) apps continues to soar year on year, with more than 300,000 currently available on iOS and Android compared with the approximately 165,000 available in 2015.

Digital tools such as apps are becoming increasingly important for the 463 million people across the globe with diabetes, helping many to manage their condition. But as mHealth becomes more established in healthcare and as adoption is accelerated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we need to consider how to optimise its impact for all.

mHealth and diabetes care

Most people with diabetes (PWDs) only see their healthcare professional (HCP) for a few hours each year, making the majority of care self-management. Its therefore no surprise that there are approximately 2,000 apps in the US alone related to supporting people with diabetes. Crucially, in the absence of regular facetime with HCPs, some of these apps enable PWDs to monitor their diabetes management, identify patterns and trends, and share data with their HCPs when they need more input.

These mHealth apps play a key role in self-management and there is evidence to show they really do work. For example, we found in a study from 2018 that using Ascensias Contour Diabetesapp for over 180 days was associated with a reduced frequency of both hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic events.

Furthermore, apps can provide vital support in driving long-term behavior change in areas such as nutrition, activity and sleep that not only improve diabetes but also its related comorbidities. This is where digital health solutions have great potential to offer holistic approaches that deliver sustainable, optimal health outcomes.

Creating a holistic ecosystem

It is key to keep in mind that mHealth apps cannot be used in isolation they must be employed as part of a holistic healthcare ecosystem.

Digital health is about connecting the dots between different devices, conditions and treatments as well as between patients and HCPs. As a result, partnerships and collaborations play a crucial role. From digital health start-ups to healthcare providers, organisations need to ensure that their devices and systems integrate together if they are to improve the quality of life for those that depend on them.

As an example, for PWDs this could include enabling data integration from multiple sources such as CGMs, ECGs, and other wearables into the same app or digital solution. From this, treatments and management advice can be tailored to the bespoke needs of the patient.

A data driven society

In todays society, data drives many of the biggest discoveries and healthcare is no exception. Huge advances in technology are now arming HCPs and patients with vast amounts of data and its becoming apparent that this is leading to better health insights.

The future of diabetes management, for example, is more than just devices and medications. Collecting and analysing data to provide actionable, personalised management recommendations is critical to improving the health and lives of PWDs. Yet less than 1% of mHealth apps related to diabetes in the US have more than 50,000 monthly active users (MAUs), and less that 10% of mHealth apps across the board have exceeded this level either.

The challenges for developers offering mHealth apps remain unchanged: how to engage, re-engage, and retain regular users.

From app recruitment to retention

Some fundamental barriers to app usage are harder to address than others. Around the world many people dont have access to the necessary technology, such as smartphones and laptops. This is further compounded by digital and health literacy issues that create a serious barrier to virtual diabetes care.

It is imperative for apps to retain those who do have access as they can improve a persons engagement in their care. In a study we found that engagement with diabetes self-management increased over time, as demonstrated by frequency of blood glucose testing after 180 days of app use versus 30 days. In other words, long-term use of a mHealth app seems to facilitate higher engagement by people with chronic conditions and, in turn, this can lead to better self-management.

The user journey is generally the most influential factor when considering how best to retain and engage users. Apps must fit into the lifestyles of those managing chronic conditions and listening to users is paramount in establishing what features matter. This is where user centred design and frequent usability studies become critical to the development process.

In healthcare, needs vary from person to person, through gender, age and socioeconomic situation. A truly personalised user experience goes beyond medicine in order to drive engagement, and ultimately improve quality of life.

For the health ecosystem to really thrive, we need to increase access to mHealth and enable better collaboration that can optimise digitisation. We are starting to see this in abundance in diabetes care and we are very excited to see this transformation stretch above and beyond diabetes management.

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The role of mHealth and digitisation in diabetes care - Med-Tech Innovation

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Perspectives on the psychological and emotional burden of having gestational diabetes amongst low-income women in Cape Town, South Africa - BMC Blogs...