Diabetes management tools and smartphones have long gone hand-in-hand, so to speak, in the push to help people with this chronic disease better manage their health. Now one smartphone maker is forging a partnership with one of the biggest names in the diabetes industry.
The deal between Samsung Electronics and Medtronic, announced at the American Diabetes Association's 75th annual Scientific Sessions in Boston, seeks to bolster the capabilities of an Android-based mobile health management platform for diabetics and their caregivers. Officials say the partnership will develop mobile applications that pair Samsung devices with Medtronic's MiniMed Connect platform, which ties together the diabetic patient, his or her insulin pump and blood glucose monitoring system and healthcare providers.
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The implications are enormous. A digital health solution that enables diabetics and their caregivers to monitor blood sugar levels and administer insulin in real time through mobile devices could greatly improve a diabetic's lifestyle and reduce costly and dangerous health complications, both short- and long-term.
"Samsung is committed to applying its deep understanding of how people use technology to bring new innovations to healthcare," David Rhew, chief medical officer and head of healthcare and fitness for Samsung Electronics America, said in a June 5 press release issued at the ADA conference. "Patients are seeking better ways not only to monitor their condition, but also to enjoy a greater quality of life. We are excited to partner with Medtronic to develop diabetes management solutions that produce positive change and greater autonomy for people living with diabetes."
"By addressing more of the social and emotional aspects of living with diabetes and improving lifestyle fit, we believe that more people worldwide will be able to experience better diabetes control that today's advanced therapies provide," added Alejandro Galindo, vice president and general manager of Medtronic's Intensive Insulin Management business, in the release. "Medtronic aims to transform diabetes by providing world-class integrated care, enabled by leading technologies, big data and informatics. Our partnership with Samsung is a key step in providing convenient and discreet access to diabetes data, so together we can provide people with diabetes greater freedom and better health."
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The Samsung-Medtronic partnership isn't the only diabetes-related digital health news to come out this month. On June 3, Glooko announced partnerships with Dexcom, the developer of a continuous blood glucose monitoring platform, and Insulet, which has developed the OmniPod Insulin Management System, to create a device-agnostic platform for collecting and analyzing diabetic health data.
Glooko executives say Dexcom's CGM data and Insulet's OmniPod pump data will be brought into the Glooko platform, which synchs data from more than 30 blood gluclose monitors and many Apple and Android mobile devices.
“Digital health data integration will have a significant impact on the clinical care we provide for people with diabetes,” Howard Wolpert, of the Joslin Diabetes Center, said in a release provided by Glooko. ”Our work with Glooko in creating the Joslin HypoMap powered by Glooko and Glooko continuing to add in device data and reports that synthesize information to provide clinically significant insights not present on currently-available data downloads will help more patients to realize the benefits of CGM and pump therapy, and will help clinicians provide more efficient and effective care,” he continued.
The Samsung partnership follows Medtronic's June 5 announcement of U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance for the MiniMed Connect device, which securely transmits insulin pump and BGM data from the MiniMed insulin pump to a smartphone app and on to a web dashboard that enables real-time viewing of glucose and insulin information. The system also sends text notifications to appointed caregivers if an alarm on the pump isn't addressed or readings reach dangerous levels.
"Engagement from people with diabetes, loved ones and healthcare providers is key to living well with diabetes. With MiniMed Connect, the entire care team can have access to critical diabetes data to inform the decisions that help people have better outcomes," Annette Brüls, vice president and general manager of Medtronic's Diabetes Services and Solutions business, said in a separate release announcing the FDA clearance. "MiniMed Connect is another step in our broader strategy to be a holistic diabetes management company. The Connect platform represents how we will use leadership technologies, data and informatics to enable better therapy decision-making and care for people with diabetes. Our hope is that this will make it easier for more people to manage their disease and optimize their therapy so they can achieve greater freedom and better health."
Medtronic isn't done, either. The company has also announced a partnership with Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) to develop a new insulin pump infusion set with BD FlowSmart technology, designed to improve the consistency of insulin delivery through a pump that's attached to the diabetic's body. The infusion set has received clearance in both the United States and Canada, has been submitted for EU approval and is expected to hit the market next year.
The company is also using the MiniMed platform in a series of studies in Europe to develop an artificial pancreas.
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