World Diabetes Day: New devices coming

Every year, November 14 is World Diabetes Day, a day to raise awareness of this chronic disease that affects millions of people around the world. In Spain, Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of casesaffecting approximately 14% of the adult population.

Alarmingly, nearly half of those affected are unaware of their condition, limiting access to preventative treatment and early monitoring.

Maria José Picon, vice-president of the Spanish Diabetes Society (SED), emphasizes the importance detect and treat the disease in the early stagesespecially through lifestyle changes and a wide range of drug treatments before switching to insulin.

How can we prevent this disease?

Unlike type 1 diabetes, which has an autoimmune basis, type 2 diabetes is closely associated with risk factors such as overweight, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

Although the body continues to produce insulin, these patients have insulin resistance, meaning insulin “is difficult to work, which overloads the pancreas and, over time, depletes its production capacity.

Fortunately, a combination of drug treatment and lifestyle changes can delay or prevent the progression of type 2 diabetes, reducing the likelihood of switching to insulin use.

New therapeutic options

In recent years, advances in the therapeutic armamentarium for type 2 diabetes have allowed the development of innovative medicines which improve the body’s response to insulin and control blood glucose levels.

The goal of these treatments is reduce the progression of type 2 diabetes and delay the need for insulin. However, when insulin becomes necessary, it is a sign that the capacity of the pancreas has significantly decreased.

1. GLP-1 analoguessuch as semaglutide (commercially known as Ozempic), which in addition to reducing insulin resistance helps lose weight in obese patients.
2. Glucosuricsmedications that promote the elimination of glucose through urine, which not only helps control blood sugar levels, but also has additional benefits for cardiovascular health.

New devices for glycemic monitoring

Technological advances have revolutionized glucose monitoring in diabetic patients. Currently there are modern and less invasive devices which help people with diabetes maintain precise glucose control without the need for constant injections. Among the most notable:

• Glucose sensors: They are placed under the skin and measure glucose levels in real time. Devices like Freestyle Free and Dexcom The G6 has gained widespread popularity due to its precision and comfort.
• Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM)– Allow patients to receive continuous glucose readings, which is especially useful for preventing hypoglycemia in people with type 1 diabetes.
• Device pointcare : Diagnostics for measuring salivary glucose levels, from biosensor to electronics, housing And application measurements, thus creating an ultra-sensitive, easy-to-use, portable, reliable and cost-effective mechanism.

These devices They connect to mobile apps and offer detailed information. which helps both patients and their doctors make the necessary adjustments to treatment and prevent serious complications.

Advances in the treatment of type 1 diabetes

For type 1 diabetes, which requires insulin for diagnosis, treatment alternatives to daily injections are the subject of intense research. Currently, two main routes have been developed:

1. Transplantation of the pancreas or pancreatic islets: This method involves transplanting insulin-producing islets from a donor to a patient, usually by injection into the portal vein. Although effective, donor shortages and the need for lifelong immunosuppression are major obstacles.
2. Stem cell cell therapy: One of the most promising alternatives in research. Using pluripotent stem cells, scientists are working to differentiate these cells into insulin-producing cells. Although they are in the experimental stage, these treatments could mean a functional cure for type 1 diabetes in the not-too-distant future.

Future prospects

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the use of Teplizumab. first drug that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes in people at high risk.

This drug marks significant progress in prevention of this diseaseacting on the previous stage of type 1 diabetes, known as latent autoimmune diabetes.

In type 2 diabetes, efforts focus on Healthy lifestyle awareness and education. According to the SED, the key is to educate the public about the importance of maintaining a balanced diet, regular physical activity and periodic glucose testing to prevent prediabetes from progressing to diabetes.

º