Michael Pratt, a Hillville farmer with type one diabetes has praised a new medical technology that allows him to be monitored remotely by doctors. There are 42,860 people living with type one diabetes in NSW,1 a lifelong and incurable condition with long term complications including heart attacks and strokes, loss of vision, amputations, and possible mental health challenges. People living with diabetes are required to monitor their glucose (sugar) levels many times a day to stay within a target range and avoid these complications in the long term. Nowadays, Australians can choose to monitor their glucose levels without pricking their fingers and drawing blood, which can be painful and time consuming. The FreeStyle Libre 2 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system comprises a small, flat, and waterproof sensor that is stuck to the back of the user’s arm for up to 14 days. It is scanned using a smartphone app to obtain real-time glucose readings and trends. Thanks to Bluetooth technology, the CGM technology can alert the user of high or low glucose levels via optional and customisable alarms. Michael Pratt was diagnosed with type one diabetes more than 52 years ago and started using the FreeStyle Libre recently. “The graphs and the readings showing the direction my sugar level is going, and the alerts and the alarms, have just been brilliant,” Michael said. “I change the alert level depending upon the time of the day. If you are slashing a paddock or just driving a tractor, you do not want to go low. “The CGM has just meant that I can be testing my glucose levels while I’m working, it means that I’ve got a great deal more confidence. “(Before using CGM), I would have to dose up on food before I went out to do strenuous activity because I’d be half a kilometer from the house. It’s dusty, it’s noisy, sometimes (my blood glucose) goes low and I would not know.” The glucose data collected by the person with diabetes’ smartphone app is stored securely in the Cloud and shared with their loved ones via an app called LibreLinkUp. “When I am out in the paddock and physically working hard, my glucose levels can drop very quickly. The LibreLinkUp app sends the alarm to my wife so that she can phone me to make sure that I have had something to eat, or if I don’t answer, come out and see to me. It is a fail-safe back-up and could be life saving.” Cloud-based data sharing also allows the person with diabetes’ healthcare team to monitor them remotely. This feature benefits people who live in regional areas and need to drive longer distances for medical appointments. Dr Stephen Thornley is an endocrinologist based in Sutherland, NSW, and has many patients with type one diabetes who live in regional areas. “People in the country in NSW have been doing (remote monitoring) for years and we rely on the technology. “With the technology, I’ve got the ability to look at the data remotely and from anywhere in the world for that matter so in terms of reviewing the patients and looking at their data it has made a big difference. “I’m a big believer in technology because it dramatically improves quality of life.” Mr Pratt is one of nearly 70,000 Australians living with type one diabetes who still need to pay for CGM technology in full, costing around $2400 each year. Those who currently have subsidised access to the devices are people with type one diabetes who are under 21 years of age, planning for pregnancy, pregnant, or immediately post-pregnancy, or aged 21 years or older with valid concessional status. There are 960 people living with type one diabetes in the Federal Electorate of Lyne.
Michael Pratt, a Hillville farmer with type one diabetes has praised a new medical technology that allows him to be monitored remotely by doctors.
There are 42,860 people living with type one diabetes in NSW,1 a lifelong and incurable condition with long term complications including heart attacks and strokes, loss of vision, amputations, and possible mental health challenges.
People living with diabetes are required to monitor their glucose (sugar) levels many times a day to stay within a target range and avoid these complications in the long term.
Nowadays, Australians can choose to monitor their glucose levels without pricking their fingers and drawing blood, which can be painful and time consuming.
The FreeStyle Libre 2 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system comprises a small, flat, and waterproof sensor that is stuck to the back of the user’s arm for up to 14 days. It is scanned using a smartphone app to obtain real-time glucose readings and trends.
Thanks to Bluetooth technology, the CGM technology can alert the user of high or low glucose levels via optional and customisable alarms.
Michael Pratt was diagnosed with type one diabetes more than 52 years ago and started using the FreeStyle Libre recently.
“The graphs and the readings showing the direction my sugar level is going, and the alerts and the alarms, have just been brilliant,” Michael said.
“I change the alert level depending upon the time of the day. If you are slashing a paddock or just driving a tractor, you do not want to go low.
“The CGM has just meant that I can be testing my glucose levels while I’m working, it means that I’ve got a great deal more confidence.
“(Before using CGM), I would have to dose up on food before I went out to do strenuous activity because I’d be half a kilometer from the house. It’s dusty, it’s noisy, sometimes (my blood glucose) goes low and I would not know.”
The glucose data collected by the person with diabetes’ smartphone app is stored securely in the Cloud and shared with their loved ones via an app called LibreLinkUp.
“When I am out in the paddock and physically working hard, my glucose levels can drop very quickly. The LibreLinkUp app sends the alarm to my wife so that she can phone me to make sure that I have had something to eat, or if I don’t answer, come out and see to me. It is a fail-safe back-up and could be life saving.”
Cloud-based data sharing also allows the person with diabetes’ healthcare team to monitor them remotely. This feature benefits people who live in regional areas and need to drive longer distances for medical appointments.
Dr Stephen Thornley is an endocrinologist based in Sutherland, NSW, and has many patients with type one diabetes who live in regional areas.
“People in the country in NSW have been doing (remote monitoring) for years and we rely on the technology.
“With the technology, I’ve got the ability to look at the data remotely and from anywhere in the world for that matter so in terms of reviewing the patients and looking at their data it has made a big difference.
“I’m a big believer in technology because it dramatically improves quality of life.”
Mr Pratt is one of nearly 70,000 Australians living with type one diabetes who still need to pay for CGM technology in full, costing around $2400 each year.
Those who currently have subsidised access to the devices are people with type one diabetes who are under 21 years of age, planning for pregnancy, pregnant, or immediately post-pregnancy, or aged 21 years or older with valid concessional status.
There are 960 people living with type one diabetes in the Federal Electorate of Lyne.
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