Technological improvements have made aided those with Diabetes

Diabetes

Continued from Page A1 injections. Sometimes we had to negotiate with her for 30 minutes. I think in the beginning it was traumatizing for her.”

The News-Press asked Ms. Hornbuckle about the development of education in managing the disease.

“I believe education has evolved as technology available has evolved. But now there have been such incredible improvements: from better insulins, to sensors constantly managing blood glucose levels, to insulin pumps,” she said.

Dr. Thorsell said society can better educate people about diabetes by “offering patients innovative technology such as continuous glucose monitors earlier on in their diagnosis (ideally at the prediabetes level), which is crucial to provide patients with real-time glucose data, which is likely to enable immediate implementation of dietary changes and regular exercise, and encourage compliance.

Additionally, continued Dr. Thorsell: “If we can implement diet and exercise modifications early on in the disease process, then we may be able to preserve the burnout of these insulinproducing beta cells in the pancreas, and subsequently patients are less likely to require insulin or other antidiabetic drugs for their treatment.”

According to Ms. Hornbuckle, one of the greatest technological innovations is the Omnipod 5 system, which the News-Press reported on back in March. Ms. Hornbuckle and her two children all use the Omnipod 5 system, which is a patch worn externally and is changed every two to three days.

“I think Lucas had access to the technology before Kamryn because she wasn’t diagnosed. My husband or I would go into his room at night and place our hand on his heart to make sure he was alive. But we realize the Omnipod 5 system is safe and reliable, so that we can sleep peacefully,” said Ms. Hornbuckle.