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Technology Friday: inTouch*Diabetes Software, and… Computer Simulation for an Artificial Pancreas
Two steps forward in diabetes technology were announced this week, My Friends:
First, the FDA has cleared a new wireless diabetes management system called inTouch™·diabetes. The system was created by West Chester, PA-based SymCare, Inc., a company started by Johnson & Johnson.
“The new web-based system uses a combination of objective biometric data, education and a rewards program to better engage patients in effective diabetes management.”
It’s not exactly clear from the press release if this program is proprietary to J&J LifeScan metering products — or can be used by any patient using any device — but here’s what’s different about this logging program according to the provider:
· it automatically collects blood sugar readings from a glucose meter (see above) and wirelessly transmits them to a secure web site, allowing patients and caregivers to identify trends.
· it also enables text messaging to cellphones for on-the-go management (yeah, if your doctor’s up for that).
· it offers “live one-on-one discussions about information that patients can discuss with their healthcare providers” (this I have to see)
· it provides content from Johns Hopkins University and diet and exercise programs from e-Diets, AND a rewards program linked to Amazon.com® “that can lead to behavioral changes and improved outcomes” (everybody does love free stuff!)
Hmm, inTouch certainly sounds like a step up from your run-of-the-mill PC-based diabetes logging program. Actual value TBD.
Also this week, diabetes researchers have achieved “a key step toward the successful development of an Artificial Pancreas.” I didn’t post this first because I didn’t want to get your hopes up. This is one of those incremental steps in the nebulous world of research that may be more exciting to researchers at this moment than to us D-folk out in the Real World.
Here’s why: what researchers have done is to effectively tie together a number of existing diabetes technologies — including the OmniPod insulin pump and Personal Diabetes Manager that controls it, a continuous glucose monitor, in this case either the FreeStyle Navigator® or the DexCom STS7® — and then created an algorithm to automate and evaluate the interaction between them.
This overarching software, if it works well, is certainly a big piece of the Artificial Pancreas puzzle. According to lead researcher Eyal Dassau of UC Santa Barbara, this achievement will allow researchers to fully verify and validate that an artificial pancreas can efficiently operate in the variety of conditions prior to patient trials. In other words, test how SAFE the system is before plugging patients into it.
Good stuff! Yet naturally, it will be a while still until the AP goes mainstream.
Explore posts in the same categories: D-News Examined, Diabetes Product Parade, Products
Regarding your description of inTouch™·diabetes:
Yesterday I received an invitation, apparently (but not obviously) from Abbott Diabetes Care (as in, their logo flashed across the screen before it went over to surveymonkey), to take part in a survey regarding my glucose testing habits. The largest part of the survey was the “last question”, in which I was asked to evaluate about two dozen line items in terms of the likelihood that these features would entice me to switch brands/models of glucometer.
Most of these features are very similar to those you mentioned in your description of inTouch™·diabetes.
From these two datapoints I surmise that this service will probably require a “next generation” OneTouch meter and perhaps also a specific wireless-telephony carrier and phone model.
Given the services and service level suggested, one should probably presume a monthly subscription that is either covered by one’s insurance carrier (and possibly required for insurance) or paid for by the individual. Nothing like having Big Pharma running up your cellphone bill yelling at you to not have dinner and to take more medication… and having to pay for the “honor”…
Posted by: tmana | April 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 amThe survey request was definitely from Abbott: Abbott Diabetes Care has begun an effort to better understand diabetes patients’ needs, and is pleased to invite you to participate in a brief survey about living with diabetes. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Your feedback is very valuable to us…
…The last day to respond will be Friday, April 17th, so please respond by then if you intend to answer the survey. If you have trouble accessing the survey or have technical questions, please contact research@rtcrm.com.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=YK2lFJlsFy6ZIKjR1A7_2bbA_3d_3d
As a token of our appreciation, we will donate $5 in your honor to the American Diabetes Association when you successfully complete the entire survey and submit it (up to a maximum total donation of $5,000 for all survey respondents)…
Note that http://www.ydmv.net>Bennet puts forth the premise that SymCare is just another face of J&J/OneTouch/Animas
Posted by: tmana | April 3rd, 2009 at 7:37 pmYeah I was curious about who SymCare is. When I found out and came to reply the site was down so I posted at YDMV. I am always skeptical and often sarcastic too.
http://www.ydmv.net/2009/04/who-is-symcare.html
Posted by: Bennet | April 3rd, 2009 at 7:58 pmSo, is the blood sugar data transmitted through a mobile data plan, or wirelessly (wifi) through a computer on to the server?
This was not stated clearly enough for me to be able to tell.
Posted by: MJ | April 3rd, 2009 at 9:47 pmHi Bennett,
Yes, I saw that inTouch was the name for an older (2001) version of a LifeScan software system. I think J&J created a separate company to further develop and market this program. J&J was very clear that they launched SymCare. Not so sure it’s all as suspect as you indicate. (Hope to Hell not, anyway)
Posted by: AmyT | April 3rd, 2009 at 11:41 pmThis is all promising news about new technologies to benefit people with diabetes. At my blog at http://www.dentistryfordiabetics.com/blog I write extensively about diabetes, its health effects, research and the role oral health care plays in managing diabetes.
Charles Martin, DDS
Posted by: Dr. Charles Martin | April 4th, 2009 at 8:15 amFounder, Dentistry for Diabetics
“An artificial pancreas will allow for tighter and automated control of blood glucose levels, which would significantly help to avoid the long-term complications of the disease. ”
Posted by: Don | April 4th, 2009 at 8:35 amThis is a hopeful development and minimizing highs is an appropriate focus but funny how the first thing that popped into my head is how nice it would be to live life without lows.
Well Amy my skeptical alarms go off when commercial web sites and press releases don’t have physical addresses. I think you really hit a key point,
“It’s not exactly clear from the press release if this program is proprietary to J&J LifeScan metering products — or can be used by any patient using any device”
It gets back to the consumer vs patient mindset.
Posted by: Bennet | April 4th, 2009 at 9:16 amI think the biggest problem still is the delay. For one, an artificial pancreas has to have alot of “user customizable options” as very few diabetics are the same. Then, they need to get over the hurdle of how slow insulin is and how food reacts. Think about it, right now when you eat dinner do you wait till your food is started digesting and you notice a raise in BG before giving insulin? I would hope not. So how is an AP going to be able to work around that?
Another problem is say you start to run low. Shutting off the insulin flow will not help at all. You still have all the insulin currently active in your system. Shutting off the flow will just result in one going higher later on.
Personally, there will never be an AP unless it is implanted and measures glucose levels in the blood stream and dumps insulin directly into the bloodstream.
Posted by: Kevin D. | April 4th, 2009 at 12:40 pmTo me this is great news. I’ve started a discussion about it on TuDiabetes:
Posted by: Manny Hernandez | April 5th, 2009 at 6:47 pmhttp://tudiabetes.com/forum/topics/fda-clears-wireless-diabetes
This is great news and I was just over at http://www.thepushforward.com and they have posted the video which is great to see. This will change the lives of millions of people….
Great Info!
Posted by: Jeremy | April 8th, 2009 at 11:58 pmI recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.clpostingguide.info
Posted by: Sarah | April 9th, 2009 at 5:24 amThanks. Good information !
Posted by: KAMAL | October 11th, 2009 at 5:20 amot so sure it’s all as suspect as you indicate.
Posted by: affiliate | February 25th, 2010 at 1:23 am