Dr Sanjiv Agarwal, MD and Founder, Diabetacare, gives an overview of diabetes epidemic in India and how Diabetacare’s clinico – Technology solution has been able to efficiently monitor people living with diabetes
Why is there a need to bridge the gaps in current diabetes management strategies and what are the challenges?
About 70 million people live with diabetes in India and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that an additional 36 million remain ignorant of their condition. This means that nearly one in 10 Indians suffers from this condition but is either unaware of it or is slipping through the treatment cracks with inadequate reporting and monitoring. There is a definite problem with awareness of diabetes among people. Once they become aware, the second problem arises with the acceptance of the disease, at least for the first few years. Unless the patient accepts the condition, it becomes a challenge to manage/ monitor it.
How does clinico-technology assist in transforming diabetes management?
Diabetacare’s clinico-Technology solution enables efficient close monitoring and management of people living with diabetes. The aim is to enhance patient care, enabling healthcare providers to asynchronously communicate with their patients in a technology-enabled, and high-touch model minimising risk of errors and improving clinical outcomes. Our diabetes management centre is a 24×7 clinical contact centre, staffed with doctors, diabetes specialist nurses and diabetes educators. This team supports patients, physicians and patient families in improving compliance and providing round the clock care for better outcomes.
Which solutions do you offer?
At Diabetacare, we understand that a physician’s concern for their patients goes beyond managing their blood glucose levels. We also know that diabetes management needs treatment and care options above and beyond basic consultations. To ensure that the physicians are best supported in providing their patients complete diabetes management solution, we have developed unique products and services that would complement their services and ensure 360-degree care.
Diabetacare technology components include:
DiabetaCart: This has been designed to provide comprehensive investigations focusing on Diabetes complications and consultation to improve lifestyle and compliance.
DxNET: Comprehensive Diabetes Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system with intelligence built for clinical decision making (CDM), which provides prompts and nudges to the caregiver (physicians, diabetes specialist nurses, diabetes educators, super specialist physicians) and to the people suffering with diabetes.
DIABETAPAD: Physician can access patient’s clinical trends; visualize the history & relevant sections of patient’s vitals & investigation in an easy to use electronic tablet & INTOUCH Physician app (in iOS & Android)
dCare Smart: dCare Smart is a connected ‘smart’ glucometer. Results are transmitted within 30 seconds to DxNET.
dCare 2-in-1: dCare 2-in-1 is a bluetooth-enabled glucometer and blood pressure monitoring device for patients at higher risk.
DIABETA app: The Diabeta app acts as companion tool for the patients for reminders and alerts (for checking BGL, BP, taking medication, doing exercise, tracking calorie intake). Patients and authorised family members can easily visualise the trends, reports, care plan in this easy to use interface. This is available for download on both iOS & Android platforms.
InTouch Physician App: The InTouch Physician App helps you manage and monitor patients that require extra care and attention.
Snap a Meal app: ‘Snap a Meal’ captures information on calorie intake and helps control weight and blood sugar level. The app allows the physicians to stay up-to-date on their patient’s health and provide timely care.
Diabetes Management Centre (DMC): Diabetes Management Centre (DMC) is a 24×7 contact centre which has been developed to provide assistance to people with diabetes. DMC team consists of diabetes specialist nurses (DSNs), diabetes educators, diabetes specialist nutritionists and health coaches who are trained by clinicians and accredited by UK universities.
Brief us about the diabetes management platforms available?
We provide advance diabetes management ecosystem for our patients and doctors. This includes:
- Smart glucometers
- Electronic medical records with in-built clinical decision making based on NHS guidelines
- Diabetes management apps for patients and doctors
- 24×7 Diabetes Management Contact Centre
Are there any reports which show that diabetes can be managed effectively using these solutions?
We have published several research papers to prove that diabetes can be managed effectively using these solutions
- Alerts with remote monitoring improves diabetes control and increases confidence
- Structured care plan improves metabolic control
What is the mechanism of these solutions? Elaborate on the technologies which have been incorporated?
The solution is web-based application hosted on robust Linux-based platform and in highly reliable amazon infrastructure. The mobile applications are developed in native development platforms namely Java for Android and Objective-C/Swift for iOS to ensure great user experience and performance of the application.
What are the new innovations in the pipeline?
We are working on smarter decision making tools for our physicians and on algorithms which will prompt swift actions both from the care giver and care recipient.
How accurate are these solutions?
Quality assurance and accuracy of the solution is the top most priority of Diabetacare team. Diabetacare clinico-technology ecosystem which includes in-clinic diagnostic module and tools connecting to well-known brands, are either FDA approved or CE marked, helping our partners to efficiently screen diabetes complications in any given setting. Accuracy of these devices are well documented and undergo rigorous international scrutiny.
Algorithms in our primary smart Electronic Medical Record System (DxNET) are based on International guidelines adopted from NICE (UK) or ADA (US) – these are continuously improved as the guidelines are updated.
Diabetacare smart SIM enabled Glucometer (dCare Smart) is FDA approved as well as tested by NIH in India with highest level of accuracy for such devices.