What's ahead in glucose monitoring? New techniques hold promise for improved ease and accuracy

Advances in blood glucose monitoring have made it easier, more comfortable, and more practical for patients to monitor frequently. The new meters for intermittent monitoring are smaller and less dependent on technical aptitude than older models. They require less blood, and many provide downloadable information for glucose analysis. Data systems used with new meters provide valuable information that can dramatically improve glycemic control. Continuous glucose sensing (figure 4) is another major breakthrough in management of diabetes. Current systems allow only retrospective analyses, but real-time readings should be available in the near future. Such technological advances hold promise for preventing both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and for reducing the risk of long-term complications associated with diabetes. An artificial, mechanical islet cell may be the big next step toward bringing this disease under control. By combining continuous glucose monitoring data with continuous insulin delivery via an external or an implantable insulin pump, the outlook promises to be much brighter for patients with type 1 diabetes.