Innovation and technology have transformed the lives of patients with diabetes.
Significant opportunities exist to further improve patient care, reduce the impact of the illness and support healthy and active living.
Diabetes was first documented as a condition in 1500 BC, in 1869 Paul Langerhans described the islet cells of the pancreas and in 1921 Frederick Banting and Charles Best discover insulin.
It was not until 1969 that the first portable blood glucose meter was introduced, 1998 for the first insulin pumps to be introduced and 2002 for the continuous glucose monitors to become widely available.
Technology has transformed the lives of diabetics making it possible to manage the condition. Improving connectivity and integrating technologies has the potential to further improve care.
Given the reach of mobile networks and services that are becoming ever more intelligent, there is a unique opportunity to develop new and innovative models for collaborative and integrated care systems that put the patient in the centre and provide a continuum of care.
More specifically, mobile health (mHealth) solutions can help healthcare providers deliver better, more consistent, coordinated and more efficient healthcare, where and how it is needed, increase access to health services to remote or under-served communities, and empower individuals to manage their own health more proactively and effectively.
This will help to make the needed shift from acute, reactive and hospital-based care to long term, proactive and home-based care, integrating both health and social settings - underpinned by health promotion, disease prevention, independent living and integrated health, social, community and self-care.
The mHealth Grand Tour is working with researchers, medical technology companies, mobile operators and people with diabetes to better understand how technology can best be applied to support patients and to demonstrate the value of technology to diabetes healthcare professionals, health regulators and other stakeholders.
