Technology in Diabetes – What Does It Look Like?

“I didn’t believe it at first, it took me a lot of time to accept it,” said Ludmila, when her daughter was diagnosed with diabetes in 1986, at the age of only 4.

It is estimated that around 415 million people are living with diabetes in the world.

A person may develop diabetes when their pancreas doesn’t make insulin or enough of it. Insulin helps blood sugar enter the cells in your body for use as energy, so without it, blood sugar can’t get into the cells and builds up in the bloodstream.

“She drank a lot of water, had a weak bladder and when I took her to the doctor, she had a glucose level of 30. It was almost immediately confirmed.”

The goal for somebody with diabetes is to keep the blood sugar level as close to normal as possible, to delay or prevent complications, and the average is around 4.44 to 7.2 mmol/L. This can be done either by doing a finger-prick test with a pen, or by using an electronic blood sugar monitor called a CGM.

However, around 20 years ago, this was not the case.

Ludmila said: “Back then, there were no single-use needles and technology hadn’t yet developed. I sterilised needles myself. Even when checking sugar in urine, I had to take a sample and put Benedict’s solution into it. Then heat it in a test tube and check. It took up a lot of time. I was working part-time to take care of my daughter – I always wanted the best for her.” 

Hypoglycaemia is a cause of low blood sugar levels – this can happen if you take too much insulin or do not eat enough carbohydrates for how much insulin you take.

“A few years down the line came single-use needles, and it was easier. She started to learn things herself as she grew up and I could eventually work full-time. I kept telling myself: I never want her to feel like there is something wrong with her. So, we lived life normally.”

Having had diabetes for 38 years, along with coeliac disease that she was diagnosed with at 19, Ludmila’s daughter, Ivana Dubovska, spoke about her experience.

“It affects the people around me, even now. When I have low sugar, I can get moody, I shake and even my voice changes. You know, I don’t even know what it’s like not having diabetes!”

Diabetes is controlled by Ivana; she says she has discipline and she’s hard on herself. “I do it because of the fear that if I don’t control it, I will forever regret it.”

Not controlling diabetes can lead to heart attacks or strokes, even blindness and kidney disease. Of course, Ivana gets often tested in order to prevent issues like these.

An insulin pump is a small, wearable device that delivers doses of insulin at specific times. It is an alternative to the multiple daily injections that Ivana would have used to have done along with her glucometer when pumps didn’t exist.

“I have a sensor that I apply to my arm now. It connects to an app and also to my pump which then regulates my sugar levels. It’s the best thing so far.” Said Ivana.

From test tubes, solutions, and needles, to now sensors and apps on our phones. Technology is advancing. Fast. It has made life easier for millions of people suffering and it hopefully will only go up from here.

“Although I am older now and I have my own problems, I always read the news and keep up with the changes. I believe technology will only get better, and I hope I live to see it.” Said Ludmila.

If you want to know more about diabetes and how it can affect people, click here.