A look at the future of diabetes: Using data to make better decisions

It's been 98 years since insulin, discovered by Sir Frederick G Banting, was first used to treat people living with diabetes. Since then, the potential for the future of diabetes has advanced by leaps and bounds.

In the years I've lived with type 1 diabetes (T1D), I've witnessed more incredible progressions than I can count!

For a long while, people with diabetes didn't have a lot of options for management. Devices such as blood glucose meters or insulin pumps weren't widely available until the late 1970s. It seems almost bizarre to think back to those times, considering our options today.

Understanding available T1D tools

When I was first diagnosed, I was taught at the hospital to give myself insulin injections the old-school way, with a syringe. These days, when someone is diagnosed with t1d, they might be put on an insulin pump or get prescribed insulin pens. Management strategies and styles are up to the individual — I've tried out both of those methods, and I even alternate a bit based on my lifestyle and preference at the time.

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have established themselves as a game-changer after becoming available in the last decade. With these devices, you no longer have to prick your finger several times a day to check your blood sugar levels as you would with a regular meter.

CGMs not only track your blood sugar directly from your smartphone but can alert you when your blood glucose levels are trending in the wrong direction. Coming from someone that lives alone, this particular feature is unmatched. There have been times when I was sleeping soundly in the middle of the night and my CGM alarm has gone off, allowing me to catch a potentially urgent low blood sugar before it even occurred.

Diabetes management has been made exponentially easier for those with t1d who choose not to wear an insulin pump, like myself, also thanks to smart insulin pens. These pens store copious amounts of data that can be studied and tracked to help you make strategic adjustments to your insulin requirements and overall diabetes management.

Looking ahead to the future of diabetes management

The future of diabetes has been looking even brighter as of late, thanks to sophisticated looping systems, as an article in Diabetes Self-Management described. These systems allow CGMs and insulin pumps to communicate with each other. The CGM can prompt the insulin pump to reduce, increase, or halt insulin delivery all together based on glucose levels. This kind of intuitive system has the potential to make diabetes management virtually hands-free, making the day-to-day lives of people with diabetes a little easier.

All of these tools give people with diabetes the ability to share this data with their endocrinologists. Endocrinologist visits are much easier when your doctor is able to do a deep dive into your management routine and see how your decisions are positively or negatively affecting your blood glucose levels.

4 tips for using data to make better decisions today

The wealth of data available to many of us today is something that we can — and should — take full advantage of. The information that diabetes technology provides us is an opportunity to make the best possible t1D management choices for ourselves. Here are four tips that can help:

1. Pay attention to patterns. Notice what's happening with your blood glucose levels based on the foods you're eating and insulin-to-carb ratios. When are the steady CGM graphs happening most? What times of day do they typically go a little wild?
2. Get comfortable with trial and error. One of the benefits of having data at your fingertips is the ability to do a little bit of trial and error with regard to foods, insulin dosing, and even exercise. We're able to see exactly what our bodies are doing in response to all of these factors. For instance, see what type of exercise makes your blood sugar go up or down (consider trying this with cardio and resistance training).
3. Don't compare yourself to others. With the t1d community getting more and more active on social media, it's easy to see what others are sharing — and compare your own management experiences and results. Keep in mind that social media is often a highlight reel — not everyone shares the tougher days. Everyone's body is different, and everyone's circumstances are unique. We all have hard days as well as victorious ones!
4. Consult with your doctor. Store your CGM and/or pump or smart pen data via the diabetes apps that often come with these devices. Typically, your endocrinologist will be able to download the data from your pump directly. It's important to discuss any major changes to your t1d management routine with your doctor before making any final decisions.

Interested in accessing other guidance related to using CGMs and living with diabetes? Check out the library of informative articles on Health Insights.