Continuous blood glucose meter needs social experience and concerns about accurate use

[의학신문·일간보사=오인규 기자] The continuous blood glucose meter attaches a small sensor to the patient’s body, and the microfilament attached to the sensor is fixed under the skin to measure blood glucose in real time. This sensor can be linked to a smartphone to systematically monitor changes in blood sugar. Above all, it is a very innovative technology for diabetic patients in that it does not require the painful blood draw process that they had to go through several times a day.

If used correctly, you can easily see the effect of food, medications, and exercise on blood sugar changes. Based on this information, the doctor can suggest a treatment suitable for the patient’s condition.

At the same time, it should be noted that it provides an opportunity for patients to actively look at the problem factors of their own lives, and it is argued that this is a time when it is necessary to accumulate and contemplate the experience of the society as a whole for the correct use of new technologies. catches my attention

Professor Seung-hyeon Yoo, Korea University Anam HospitalAt a Zoom meeting with medical device industry reporters on the 10th, “It’s not like a magic tool, but the time has come when you can manage your daily routine and evaluate your blood sugar every day and know how your actions and situations raise or lower your blood sugar.” “It will radically change the lives of diabetic patients,” he said.

In fact, in the recently published ‘Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetes 2021’, the Korean Diabetes Association recommends the use of a real-time continuous blood glucose measurement device to control blood sugar and lower the risk of hypoglycemia in all adults with type 1 diabetes. Recommended content has been added.

This shows that the paradigm of blood glucose management in diabetic patients will change from a traditional blood glucose meter based on blood sampling to the use of a continuous blood glucose measurement system based on innovative technology.

Professor Yoo also agreed with this and suggested ‘visualization’ and ‘awareness’ as key keywords. To put it simply, it is possible to predict changes in blood sugar through arrows like a kind of car head-up display, but the value doubles when you get used to how to use it.

Also noteworthy is the evolution of technology, including the Evotte ‘Freestyle Libre’, which attaches a sensor similar to a 500 won coin to the back of the upper arm and can check blood sugar levels continuously for 14 days, the maximum of a domestically introduced product.

The accuracy of a continuous blood glucose meter can be generally evaluated by ‘Mean Absolute Relative Difference (MARD)’ and ‘Correspondence Error Grid (CEG)’. A ratio indicating the difference between the (YSI Reference) and the result of a continuous blood glucose meter. The lower the number, the higher the accuracy.

With the recent update, the 14-day average MARD of Freestyle Libre 2.5.3 version improved from 12% to 9.2%, and in particular, the MARD on the first day of use improved significantly from 17.1% to 10%. It is possible to provide improved accuracy so that diabetic patients can manage their blood sugar more effectively.

When asked about the expected development of the continuous blood glucose monitor in the future, he said, “We need to reflect the diverse needs of various people.

“It is important to combine education with health care providers, and to overcome negative experiences such as causing pain”

He continued, “As the number goes up and down continuously, continuous data can be gathered to secure a large amount of data. is becoming,” he replied.

Meanwhile, Professor Yoo Seung-hyun, who emphasized the importance of education throughout the presentation, pointed out that if the importance of active management is not recognized or if there is no motivation, it may not lead to the effect of improving blood sugar.

Professor Yoo said, “It is still in the stage of using existing diabetes education contents, but we are developing a model, and I think it is important to combine education with medical providers in the end. We have to overcome it.”

Also, “I know that each hospital’s situation is different and the patient pool is different, but we are in the process of creating educational content through communication. We will make sure to do it,” he added.