Global Diabetes “Pandemic” Marks Insulin’s 100th Anniversary

It has been exactly 100 years since insulin was first discovered, and in the century since, this game-changing development has improved and saved the lives of countless people living with diabetes. One hundred years of additional advancements in treatment, prevention, education, and blood sugar monitoring have also significantly added to their quality of life.

While this anniversary is indeed something to celebrate, it comes tinged with disappointment and concern as well. That is because instead of waning, diabetes has become “a pandemic of unprecedented magnitude,” in the words of Dr. Andrew Boulton, president of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). And the other current pandemic of unprecedented magnitude – COVID-19 – isn’t helping matters, according to experts.

As recently reported by CNN, one in every ten adults in the world is currently living with diabetes. That is approximately 537 million people, according to the IDF. Making things worse, about half (44.7%) of those 537 million don’t know they have diabetes or have received a diabetes diagnosis, leaving them particularly vulnerable to the many complications of the condition when left untreated.  By 2024, the IDF predicted that the number of people with diabetes will rise to one in eight adults.

According to the American Medical Association and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the foregoing figures don’t include the approximately 88 million Americans who currently have prediabetes.

In 2021 alone, nearly 7 million people have died due to diabetes or its complications, representing more than 1 in 10 global deaths from any cause. These fatalities are in addition to individuals with diabetes who succumbed to COVID-19. While diabetes doesn’t make someone more or less likely to get sick with COVID-19, it is now well established that diabetes significantly increases the risk of serious complications or death from the virus. A February 2021 study found that people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes were at three times more risk than others for severe illness or death from COVID-19. In fact, as noted in the CNN report, Dr. Robert Gabbay, chief scientific and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association, says that as many as 40 percent of the Americans who have died from Covid-19 had diabetes.

As such, individuals with diabetes must remain highly vigilant against acquiring COVID-19, given its disproportionately severe impact on them.

Effectively managing your diabetes is one of the most important things you can do to lower your risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19.  Accurate and frequent monitoring of glucose levels is an indispensable part of those efforts. Fortunately, advancements in glucose monitoring technology have made controlling your glucose levels more effortless than ever.

Traditional glucose monitoring involves pricking a finger multiple times a day to test blood samples, an inconvenient and uncomfortable burden. Now, Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) allows those with diabetes to avoid finger-pricking through the use of a tested, approved, and easy-to-use transceiver device.

Contact us today to see if you qualify for CGM and access our guide to continuous glucose monitoring.

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If you are not insured, or have a high deductible health insurance plan, you can still purchase the Freestyle Libre Reader and Sensors at extremely competitive prices. Prices starting as low as $99 per month

*Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings when you suspect readings may be in accurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

Reference 1: Data on file. Abbott Diabetes Care. 2, FreeStyle Libre 14 day User’s Manual

Indications and Important Safety Information

FreeStyle Libre and FreeStyle Libre 14 day Flash Glucose Monitoring systems are continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices indicated for replacing blood glucose testing and detecting trends and tracking patterns aiding in the detection of episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, facilitating both acute and long-term therapy adjustments in persons (age 18 and older) with diabetes. The systems are intended for single patient use and require a prescription.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Remove the sensor before MRI, CT scan, X-ray, or diathermy treatment.

WARNINGS/LIMITATIONS: Do not ignore symptoms that may be due to low or high blood glucose, hypoglycemic unawareness, or dehydration. Check sensor glucose readings with a blood glucose meter when Check Blood Glucose symbol appears, when symptoms do not match system readings, or when readings are suspected to be inaccurate. The system does not have alarms unless the sensor is scanned, and the system contains small parts that may be dangerous if swallowed. The system is not approved for pregnant women, persons on dialysis, or critically-ill population. Sensor placement is not approved for sites other than the back of the arm and standard precautions for transmission of blood borne pathogens should be taken. The built-in blood glucose meter is not for use on dehydrated, hypotensive, in shock, hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state, with or without ketosis, neonates, critically-ill patients, or for diagnosis or screening of diabetes. When using FreeStyle LibreLink app, access to a blood glucose monitoring system is required as the app does not provide one. Review all product information before use or contact Abbott Toll Free (855-632-8658) or visit www.freestylelibre.us for detailed indications for use and safety information.html. . FreeStyle, Libre, and related brand marks are trademarks of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in various jurisdictions. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Abbott. ADC-09691 vLO 10/18

*The FreeStyle LibreLink app and the FreeStyle Libre 14 day reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings, when you suspect readings may be inaccurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 app and the FreeStyle Libre 2 reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol and when your glucose alarms and readings from the system do not match symptoms or expectations

‡‡‡Based on the sensor being replaced once every 14 days, and scanned at least once every 8 hours.

§§§Glucose readings are not available during 1-hour warm-up, when sensor is too hot or too cold, when you see an error or "LO" or "HI" message, or no current glucose reading