WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A presentation on diabetes decision support solutions at this year’s American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) conference showcased how use of Glytec’s therapy management software in conjunction with connected device systems is breaking down barriers to effective and timely insulin management and, as a result, reducing the risks and costs of diabetes for providers, payers and patients alike.
With Glytec’s eGlycemic Management System® featuring Glucommander™, clinicians are able to perform insulin titration virtually, through remote, cloud-hosted means that allow for active surveillance and utilization of glucose data captured by connected device systems. According to outcomes of multiple studies* involving use of Glucommander™ in clinical practice, patients reached their glucose targets in 11 to 12.5 days. These same patients achieved sustained drops in A1C of 2.6 and 2.7 percentage points, respectively.
The AADE presentation -- delivered by diabetologist and researcher, Dr. Bruce Bode, and his associate, Lisa Kiblinger, a nurse practitioner and researcher -- highlighted the fact that an insulin regimen is not only required for all people with type 1 diabetes, but is central to maintaining optimal health for people with type 2 diabetes whose A1C levels are greater than 9%, a statistic true of more than a third of the 30.3 million people in the United States living with diabetes. Bode and Kiblinger noted, however, that medication adherence is a considerable problem for many people, stating: “It’s not an insulin problem, per se, it’s a dosing problem.”
In the absence of Glucommander™, periodic insulin dosing adjustments most commonly occur during a physician’s office visit. This often translates to months-long intervals during which fluctuating glucose highs and lows may cause myriad issues that disrupt activities of daily living and potentially result in dangerous episodes of hypoglycemia, trips to the emergency department and unplanned hospitalizations. These preventable events are a major reason that chronic care management for people with diabetes is a strategic imperative among healthcare organizations nationwide.
“As we see the rate of diabetes climb higher and higher, it’s crucial we take advantage of technology to improve how we care for these patients,” Bode said. “Manual titration is a complex and time-intensive process that requires a lot of data that most clinicians either don’t have access to or can’t wade through, and it also lacks in personalization to the individual patient. Using the Glucommander™ software removes that burden completely. There are tremendous efficiencies and gains to be made by using Glucommander™ in conjunction with other technology, like cellular and Bluetooth® meters, and we’ll very likely be exploring glucose sensors and smart pens soon. The bottom line is, clinicians are able to save time, money . . . treat more patients with less resources, and provide really great care. In my estimation, that’s as close to the Holy Grail as it gets.”
The research division of Atlanta Diabetes Associates, which Bode leads, is currently overseeing a pilot project in which an integrated Glytec/AgaMatrix solution is being deployed. Glucose data captured by the AgaMatrix Jazz Wireless 2 Bluetooth® device is automatically transferred from the AgaMatrix Diabetes Manager App to Glucommander™, which in turn formulates insulin dosing recommendations. Results are expected later this year or early 2018.
Kiblinger had an impassioned message for AADE attendees: “Clinicians and diabetes educators should know that whatever your comfort level with technology, within the next couple of years, all of your patients are going to be using some sort of connected device, and trust me, this is for the best! We’ve shown that products like Glucommander™ make a real difference. As a community, the way we deliver diabetes care now is archaic and ineffective, and we’re doing our patients a great disservice. They deserve better from us, they deserve a better quality of life, and technology will help make this happen.”
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* (1) Glucommander Outpatient, A Cloud-Based Insulin Management Solution, Titrated Patients to Goal in 11 Days and Sustained a 2.6% Drop in HBA1C Over 6 Months, International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes, Feb 2017. (2) Glucommander Outpatient, a Cloud-Based Insulin Management Solution Adjusted Insulin Doses and Achieved 2.7% Drop in A1c Percentage Points, American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, Jun 2016. (3) A Computer Program, Directed by Clinicians for Outpatients, Which Re-adjusts Subcutaneous Multiple Daily Injections (MDI) of Insulin, Achieves an Improvement of 2.6 A1c% Points, International Hospital Diabetes Meeting, Oct 2012.
About Glytec
Founded in 2006, Glytec is the pioneer and leader in diabetes therapy management software, enabling healthcare organizations to standardize acute and chronic care, and achieve best practice for glucose control. The company’s comprehensive eGlycemic Management System® (eGMS®) has been proven to dramatically reduce the drivers of cost and clinical variation, including hypoglycemia, readmissions, length of stay, complications and A1C levels. Its efficacy and safety have been validated by more than 60 research studies. eGMS® centers on an FDA-cleared insulin dosing solution that supports personalized intravenous and subcutaneous therapy for adult and pediatric populations. It integrates seamlessly with EMR and connected device systems for streamlined use across the entire continuum of care, including at-home, provider-directed care managed through telehealth, population health and other value-based programs. The company’s cloud-hosted software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery model allows for rapid implementation and anytime, anywhere access. Glytec has offices in Waltham, Massachusetts and Greenville, South Carolina. For more information, visit www.glytecsystems.com.
