1. Forty years ago, a person diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) would have found their life altered considerably. T1D frequently begins to manifest in childhood but can be diagnosed at any age. However, thanks to recent advances, managing this chronic condition now comes with conveniences that allow for less worry and fewer challenges for people who live with T1D.
2. People with T1D must be attentive to their food intake, carefully monitor their blood glucose levels, and take regular doses of insulin tasks that often make people feel alienated from their friends who are able to eat what they want without worry. If someone with T1D takes too much insulin for their food, they can experience hypoglycemia, a sudden drop in blood sugar, leading to debilitating symptoms such as headache, sweating, shakiness, and even fainting. But if they don't take enough insulin, they will experience hyperglycemia which causes symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, lethargy, headaches, and blurred vision.
3. Recently, however, advances in blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery have simplified disease management for many people with diabetes. Roughly 64% of current patients with T1D in the U.S. use an insulin pump for consistent, accurate delivery of insulin rather than relying on daily insulin injections (Smith & Harris, 2018). Insulin pumps generally contain an insulin reservoir and a computer chip that monitor insulin delivery through a cannula inserted under the patient's skin, usually on the lower part of the stomach. While the cannula site must be changed every few days, the pump frees the individual from needing frequent injections and delivers insulin more consistently than Injections.
4. Additionally, patients can now also use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to promote better regulation of blood sugar. CGMs use a sensor inserted under the skin to transmit blood glucose information to a smartphone app or even directly to an insulin pump. Patients can then use an app to monitor their insulin intake and blood sugar at any given time, Furthermore, the app can alert the patient to changes in blood sugar that could lead to dangerous reactions. Patients and their caregivers can use the information stored on the app to adjust diet and Insulin delivery to promote better overall health (Wong, 2023).
5. Perhaps the most exciting recent development in diabetes management is that of the hybrid, closed-loop system, or artificial pancreas. In 2016, the FDA approved the first of these devices, which combine glucose monitoring and insulin delivery in one automated system (Smith & Harris, 2018). These systems, now commercially available, allow patients with T1D a level of ease of management that enables them to go about daily tasks without the need to carry kits containing syringes, vials, finger prick devices, and test strips.
6. While a cure for T1D remains a goal of researchers, consistent improvements in patient care and management have vastly improved life for many patients living with T1D. While patients wait for a cure, modern medical technology now offers them a vastly improved quality of life