When carrying out some research I came across and signed up for the 'Type 1 and Tech Conference'. Giving me the opportunity to hear from experts, healthcare professionals and people living with type 1 diabetes whilst being guided through current technology available, learning how to access it and where to find further support. The conference kicked off on Saturday 16th October at 10am and was very useful in understanding future plans for diabetes related technology and their accessibility. It was also a great opportunity to fire my survey which I've created into the chat box in the hope more people will fill it out, 20 diabetics across the UK did so, which was very encouraging.
After sending my survey into the chat box, Julio who works in Digital and Service design sent me a private message offering feedback and views on my idea. He said that all my concepts are great and on the right track for the future of technology, the only problem I may have is getting data but seeing I'm creating a high fidelity prototype and not a live, coded product on the market currently then this isn't an issue.
A short section of the conference was listening to alot of young people discuss how technology has changed their lives and helped them cope with the condition better. The majority of young people either used the 'CGM' or 'Freestyle Libre' sensor which link up to their phones, helping them to understand their blood sugars quicker and easier. However, in the chat box there were alot of people voicing their frustrations about the Freestyle Libre 2 app and wanting answers from Abbott (the creator of the device) and I agree with them. Recently the app has been unreliable and glitching, meaning notifications aren't being sent through to friends and families phones and readings have been inaccurate. This is the downside of technology and it can cause distress with users and create less advocates for the product.
Diabetes pumps are a piece of technology which is becoming increasingly popular. We heard from a woman who stated how helpful her pump was and that she needed it because she became extremely sensitive to insulin. This made me realise that it is key my app notices when hypoglycemic episodes are happening and when insulin needs adjusted accordingly so users don't need to resort to using other technology such as a pump. However, for those with a pump such as the group young people speaking who loved it and found it easy to use, my app could potentially connect with the pump to view readings and log food. I'm not sure what purpose this would have though because if a diabetic uses a pump then they don't need to understand insulin dosages as much because the pump will correct and administer this all for them.
One parent of a child spoke about the difficulties of technology. She said that she actually removed the Freestyle Libre sensor as she felt it was giving her daughter inaccurate results and they were constantly checking blood sugars straight after taking insulin just waiting on glucose levels to do down to normal, causing panic every time they checked and it wasn't the results they wanted. Her daughter eventually used the libre again but used it as some guidance rather than full reliance, this was during sport for example. The parent said that you need to take responsibility and not let technology do absolutely everything for you. Muhammed Ali a professional type 1 diabetic boxer joined the call saying that he faced many struggles when it came to exercise and managing his blood glucose levels, even professional sporting athletes find it difficult. When it comes to sport, I need to make sure that it is factored in when calculating the users insulin bolus. However, It's important to remember that not all sport lowers blood sugar levels. Anaerobic sport such as weight lifting and sprinting causes your blood sugars to go higher because of the sudden bursts of energy, therefore users might actually need insulin afterwards!
On the topic of technology for the elderly, an elderly woman named Pat spoke for a section of the conference about apps that have helped her. Apps she listed that have helped her which I will have discussed in my competitior analysis were:
She started using a pump and said it was helpful when her phone reminded her to change the pump with an app. She found the freestyle libre very useful also and uses the Libre app to have blood glucose readings sent to her phone and smart watch. Pat says her quality of life has improved and given her freedom and confidence, allowing her to do what she wants without worrying. She found the section of the Libre app in which you can send your blood glucose readings to health professionals over the phone especially helpful during the pandemic when appointments weren't as available. This proves to me that elderly people can use diabetes technology if it is explained to them well and if they are guided through it! Pat finished by saying, "If I can do it, anyone can. Don't be afraid of technology, give it a go. I can't wait for the new things on the horizon, age is only a number."
We were provided with some top tips on diabetes technology:
I am going to have a look at this website and see if I can learn more about the types of technology out there and what those who use it have to say about it.