3 ms·
Couple of points - Yes, pumps give better control, yes it would be a lot better if it were a closed loop system between a continous monitor and a pump with a hu
by blangry 14y ago
Couple of points -
Yes, pumps give better control, yes it would be a lot better if it were a closed loop system between a continous monitor and a pump with a human confirmation point with suggested actions. We are a little way off that being supported by insurance/healthcare systems as cost effective, so really I am talking about the table as it is set up right now.
There are a number of biological factors that can make a difference, but for type 1 diabetics, the point should be that you know the ratio of carbohydrates eaten to insulin to take. This can vary, but good data helps you get the ratio right. It can also identify if you have high glucose points that match your circadian rhythm, or if you're becoming hypoglycaemic at a certain point regularly and just haven't mentally joined the dots.
Now, yes, you could do all of this through a log book on paper. I could sit down for a half hour each month and look for trends. But, I take readings on a device with digitised output between 4 and 8 times per day. I don't want to have to go analogue with that, I essentially want the blood glucose equivalent of google analytics. I can account for unusual variations (cycled for 10 miles/got blind drunk/etc.) much better if I have a dataset that demonstrates what the benchmark should be.
- Someone 14y agoI forgot about differences between health care systems. In the one I know of (NL), AFAIK every type 1 diabetic who wants one and can handle using one gets a pump and insulin for free (my sample is N=3; replacement batteries, you have to pay, IIRC) That makes sense, as companies are almost giving glucose meters away (in my N=3 sample, at least one owns more than one pump) to gain/keep market share for their 'razors', and as they improve quality of life so much for a relatively modest sum of money. Also, suppose that you find the perfect formula for determining insulin intake. How are you going to apply it without an automated device?