Advancements in Biotechnology for Diabetes Management
Prior to the discovery and use of insulin as a treatment for diabetes in the 1920s, people living with the disease had few treatment options, and essentially no good ones: bloodletting, starvation diets and various potions deceptively marketed as cures. Today, countless people have been able to bring their diabetes under control through a combination of exercise, dietary adjustments and insulin injections. However, though often effective, these approaches aren’t always practical. As diabetes management has advanced, new technologies have emerged that address the need for more practical and convenient treatment options. Here we’ll look at some of the current biotechnology helping individuals with diabetes live healthier and less disrupted lives. Implantable Devices: The Future of Diabetes Care Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) A CGM assesses the wearer’s glucose every few minutes and tracks this information. These biotechnology devices evaluate the level of glucose in the fluid between cells, not the blood itself, but the numbers are generally comparable. The device has a small sensor that can be inserted under the skin of the abdomen or arm and kept in place by an adhesive patch
