Scientists and medical device manufacturers are exploring wearable devices to control the complexities of diabetes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved several types of revolutionary wearable tech for people with diabetes—and newer technology may be on the horizon.

Types of Wearable Tech for Diabetes

Wearable tech for people with diabetes includes devices such ascontinuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systemsandinsulin pumps, which can make it easier and much more efficient for a person with diabetes to manage their blood sugar. Originally developed for people withtype 1 diabetes, advancing technology has expanded their use among people withtype 2 diabetes.

CGMs allow a person to track glucose levels on an ongoing basis. Insulin pumps deliver a precise amount of insulin at every dosage administration period. When the two systems are combined, the result is tighter blood sugar control than ever before.

Most CGM systems provide blood glucose readings along with additional data, such as alarms, for notification of pre-set high and low blood sugar levels, and more.

Why Continuous Glucose Monitoring?

Finger-sticks are limited in their ability to measureblood glucose levels—which fluctuate constantly—on an ongoing basis. When blood glucose monitoring is ineffective, this can translate to long-term complications of diabetes (such as damage to the nerves, circulatory system, vision problems, and more).

Continuous blood sugar monitoring means more accurate and effective adjustment of insulin and, subsequently, the maintenance of healthier blood sugar levels. Today, this is possible due to the innovative wearable tech for diabetes that is available.

Continuous monitoring can also offer immediate real-time protection against extremely high or low blood glucose levels that could result in dangerous adverse symptoms (such as disorientation or unconsciousness).

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems

There are several models currently available, and each differs in exactly how often and how long the glucose readings can be obtained (requiring that the sensor is changed at various intervals, from 10 to 90 days).The newest model names and features include the following.

Model: The Eversense CGM System

If you currently have an Eversense implantable sensor and need help locating an available healthcare provider for a new sensor implant, contact the company at 844-SENSE4U or email HCPservices@senseonics.com.

Model: Dexcom CGM SystemThis model’s features include:

Model: Medtronic’s Guardian Connect SystemThis model’s features include:

Model: Medtronic MiniMed 670G SystemThis model’s features include:

Model: Abbott’s Freestyle Libre 14-Day SystemThis model’s features include:

Automatic Insulin Pumps

How Insulin Pumps Work

Most insulin pumps are equipped with bolus calculators to help you figure out how much the bolus insulin dosage should be (based on your blood sugar level and your food intake at each meal). The way the insulin pump administers insulin is much like how the human pancreas works.

Automatic Insulin Pump Models

Model: Tandem t:slim X2The features include:

Model: Insulet Omnipod DASHThe features include:

Model: Roche Accu-Chek Spirit ComboThe features of this model include:

Is Wearable Tech Effective?

Many people can benefit from wearable technology for diabetes, including those who are elderly. It’s common that older adults have difficulty performing their own blood sugar checks, particularly those who have dementia. Nearly 20% of elderly people with dementia also have diabetes. These people are usually more prone to low blood sugar because of the medication they take for dementia. They may also have trouble recognizing the warning signs of hypoglycemia due to their dementia.

According to a 2019 study published inThe BMJ, older people with diabetes could benefit from the use of wearable technology, namely, wearable glucose monitors.

According to lead study author Dr. Katharina Mattishent, from the University of East Anglia Norwich Medical School: “Older people with memory problems can find it more difficult to keep an eye on their blood sugars.”

Mattishent stated, “Devices which continuously monitor people with dementia could help keep them out of hospital, preventing unnecessary distress, and saving the NHS money."‘

The study discovered that the CGM device provided greater ease in monitoring glucose levels for the people with diabetes in the study as well as their caregivers. The study also found that real-time wearable tech—devices with automated data transfer—for diabetes may be more suitable for older people with diabetes.

CGM is also helpful for parents, since they’re able to not only monitor but control their child’s glucose levels with greater ease.

Other Studies

In a randomized control study published in 2016, in those with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes who injected insulin several times each day, the use of the CGM system (compared to the standard finger-prick method) resulted in a greater decrease in HbA1c levels during a 24-hour time span.

TheHbA1c testindicates the average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. The use of CGM allows you and your doctor to focus not only on the HbA1c, but on the glucose management indicator, or GMI. GMI reflects how well controlled glucose has been over a specific period of time. The advantage of the GMI measurement over the HBA1c is that GMI is based on the percentage of time that glucose has been within normal range, while the HBA1c test doesn’t reflect how well glucose has been controlled over the same period. The GMI is also independent of hemoglobin, so it doesn’t change if you have other conditions such as anemia or kidney disease.

Benefits of Continuous Glucose Monitoring: HbA1c vs. GMI TestingTheHbA1c testindicates the average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. One of the benefits of CGM is that it allows you and your doctor to focus not only on the HbA1c, but on the glucose management indicator, or GMI. GMI reflects how well controlled glucose has been over a specific period of time. The advantage of the GMI measurement over the HBA1c is that GMI is based on the percentage of time that glucose has been within normal range, while the HBA1c test doesn’t reflect how well glucose has been controlled over the same period. The GMI is also independent of hemoglobin, so it doesn’t change if you have other conditions, such as anemia or kidney disease.

Benefits of Continuous Glucose Monitoring: HbA1c vs. GMI Testing

TheHbA1c testindicates the average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. One of the benefits of CGM is that it allows you and your doctor to focus not only on the HbA1c, but on the glucose management indicator, or GMI. GMI reflects how well controlled glucose has been over a specific period of time. The advantage of the GMI measurement over the HBA1c is that GMI is based on the percentage of time that glucose has been within normal range, while the HBA1c test doesn’t reflect how well glucose has been controlled over the same period. The GMI is also independent of hemoglobin, so it doesn’t change if you have other conditions, such as anemia or kidney disease.

Tips for Selecting Wearable Tech for Diabetes

Before deciding on the right type of wearable technology for you, it’s vital to have a discussion with your healthcare provider to get a list of features and elements that are the most important for your diabetes management. Not all features will apply to each person with diabetes.

Selecting an insulin pump can be a complicated process. Here are some factors to consider from Diabetes Education Online:

Considerations for insulin pumps include:

The Future of Wearable Tech and Diabetes

The future of wearable tech and diabetes looks promising. Big medical equipment manufacturers and other well-known technology corporations are looking into the development of new technology. Soon, new diabetes management technology may emerge incorporated into smartwatches, smart shoes and socks, and perhaps even contact lenses.

A Word From Verywell

To say that the new wearable technology for diabetes may transform the way diabetes is managed in the future is not an exaggeration. Compared to traditional methods of blood sugar monitoring (daily finger-pricks), providing blood sugar levels several times per day, the modern CGM systems transmit blood sugar level reports over 280 times a day. A person with diabetes (as well as healthcare providers) can be informed every five minutes regarding the fluctuation of blood sugar. Combine those facts with the ability to automatically dispense insulin whenever the blood glucose begins to rise—keeping it within normal limits on a continuous basis—and you can get a clear picture of just how impactful this new technology really is.

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Godfrey J.More FDA approvals for diabetes devices and product advances.Endocrineweb.Kompala T, Neinstein A.A new era: increasing continuous glucose monitoring use in type 2 diabetes.Am J Manag Care; 25(4 Spec No.):SP123‐SP126.Beyond Type 1.Continuous glucose monitors. (CGMS).Beyond Type 1.All about insulin pumps.Katharina Mattishent et al.Continuous glucose monitoring in older people with diabetes and memory problems: a mixed-methods feasibility study in the UK.BMJ Open (2019). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032037Beck RW, Riddlesworth T, Ruedy K, et al.Effect of continuous glucose monitoring on glycemic control in adults with type 1 ciabetes using insulin injections: The DIAMOND randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2017;317(4):371-378. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.19975Diabetes Education Online.Pump FAQs.Yetisen AK, Martinez-hurtado JL, Ünal B, Khademhosseini A, Butt H.Wearables in medicine.Adv Mater Weinheim. 2018;:e1706910. doi:10.1002/adma.201706910

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Godfrey J.More FDA approvals for diabetes devices and product advances.Endocrineweb.Kompala T, Neinstein A.A new era: increasing continuous glucose monitoring use in type 2 diabetes.Am J Manag Care; 25(4 Spec No.):SP123‐SP126.Beyond Type 1.Continuous glucose monitors. (CGMS).Beyond Type 1.All about insulin pumps.Katharina Mattishent et al.Continuous glucose monitoring in older people with diabetes and memory problems: a mixed-methods feasibility study in the UK.BMJ Open (2019). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032037Beck RW, Riddlesworth T, Ruedy K, et al.Effect of continuous glucose monitoring on glycemic control in adults with type 1 ciabetes using insulin injections: The DIAMOND randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2017;317(4):371-378. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.19975Diabetes Education Online.Pump FAQs.Yetisen AK, Martinez-hurtado JL, Ünal B, Khademhosseini A, Butt H.Wearables in medicine.Adv Mater Weinheim. 2018;:e1706910. doi:10.1002/adma.201706910

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Godfrey J.More FDA approvals for diabetes devices and product advances.Endocrineweb.Kompala T, Neinstein A.A new era: increasing continuous glucose monitoring use in type 2 diabetes.Am J Manag Care; 25(4 Spec No.):SP123‐SP126.Beyond Type 1.Continuous glucose monitors. (CGMS).Beyond Type 1.All about insulin pumps.Katharina Mattishent et al.Continuous glucose monitoring in older people with diabetes and memory problems: a mixed-methods feasibility study in the UK.BMJ Open (2019). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032037Beck RW, Riddlesworth T, Ruedy K, et al.Effect of continuous glucose monitoring on glycemic control in adults with type 1 ciabetes using insulin injections: The DIAMOND randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2017;317(4):371-378. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.19975Diabetes Education Online.Pump FAQs.Yetisen AK, Martinez-hurtado JL, Ünal B, Khademhosseini A, Butt H.Wearables in medicine.Adv Mater Weinheim. 2018;:e1706910. doi:10.1002/adma.201706910

Godfrey J.More FDA approvals for diabetes devices and product advances.Endocrineweb.

Kompala T, Neinstein A.A new era: increasing continuous glucose monitoring use in type 2 diabetes.Am J Manag Care; 25(4 Spec No.):SP123‐SP126.

Beyond Type 1.Continuous glucose monitors. (CGMS).

Beyond Type 1.All about insulin pumps.

Katharina Mattishent et al.Continuous glucose monitoring in older people with diabetes and memory problems: a mixed-methods feasibility study in the UK.BMJ Open (2019). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032037

Beck RW, Riddlesworth T, Ruedy K, et al.Effect of continuous glucose monitoring on glycemic control in adults with type 1 ciabetes using insulin injections: The DIAMOND randomized clinical trial.JAMA. 2017;317(4):371-378. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.19975

Diabetes Education Online.Pump FAQs.

Yetisen AK, Martinez-hurtado JL, Ünal B, Khademhosseini A, Butt H.Wearables in medicine.Adv Mater Weinheim. 2018;:e1706910. doi:10.1002/adma.201706910

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?