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The science of medicine has always been the science of decision-making. From medieval barbers trying to optimize the bloodletting required to “cure” their patients to early surgeons determining initial incision sites through to today, healthcare providers have always focused on obtaining the best available data to inform their patients’ options.
In the latest episode of our podcast series, “Health Tech on the Horizon: Diabetes,” host Mike Rugnetta talks with John Nosta, technology theorist and founder of the digital health think tank, Nosta Lab, and Laura Brandner, Director of Real World Evidence Programs, Abbott Diabetes Care, about the importance of scientific information and subsequent medical decisions.
A particularly important data point concerns the prevalence of diabetes which has risen steadily from 108 million to more than 420 million globally from 1980-2014.
The coronavirus pandemic has also brought on a new level of risk for people with diabetes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, more than 50% of people diagnosed with both COVID-19 and diabetes have been hospitalized, a rate far higher than with other people carrying the virus.
Power of Evolution
In addition to the implications of those statistics, the podcast panel also discusses the scientific evolution of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and its impact on living with diabetes. While fingertip testing provides a broad picture of ongoing glucose management, monitors like the FreeStyle Libre system can provide ongoing information when it is needed most.
Enhanced monitoring data, integrated with other wearable technology, may eventually lead to more individualized care that constantly adjusts for each person.
As this fascinating panel discusses, the importance of enhanced data in improving medical decision-making and evolving technology may take much of the guesswork out of people's daily lives.
