Helping people manage diabetes with tech and research

Singapore already has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world, and as the population ages, this will trend even higher in the future.

- Danny Soon

Over 400,000 people are currently living with diabetes, and this number is projected to reach one million by 2050.

In response, there has been significant efforts in advancing diabetes care through national health campaigns and community initiatives that raise awareness of diabetes, facilitate early detection, and empower patients and caregivers to monitor and manage the condition.

We can enhance diabetes management with technology to enable more targeted, personalized, and even preventive care, and better empower individuals in their care journey.

Research also plays a crucial role in deepening our understanding of the patient journey, including challenges such as medication compliance, care delivery and predictors of health outcomes.

Managing diabetes can be overwhelming for many patients, as it requires constant monitoring to prevent complications like kidney disease or heart problems.

The complexities of medication management, blood sugar tracking, and understanding medical advice can seem daunting.

For individuals with Type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease, achieving stable and healthy glucose levels is an even bigger challenge.

These patients are wholly dependent on externally delivered insulin, and often suffer big swings in glucose levels due to challenges in mimicking the precise control that a normal pancreas offers.

Miss a cue and dire consequences can ensue.

It is said that patients suffering from Type 1 diabetes make 120 more health-related decisions per day, compared with non-diabetic persons, adding significant mental burden.

TECHNOLOGY ENABLES PROACTIVE SELF-MANAGEMENT

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices have proliferated, to the extent that even non-diabetics are taking advantage of the convenience and real-time feedback to monitor their glucose levels in relation to diet and exercise.