Medical device company ALR Technologies Inc. has submitted a 510(k) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new feature in its Health-e-Connect system for diabetics, which will allow even busy physicians to reduce errors in insulin dosing, and make it easier to remotely manage large numbers of patients.
The innovative medical technology called Insulin Dose Adjustment Consultation (IDAC) was developed by ALR from the a series of guidelines outlined by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), in order to educate busy physicians on the proper dosage of insulin for each of its patients, according to a press release from the company. The algorithm uses current insulin levels, height, weight, and information on blood glucose as variables.
“We expect the IDAC feature will encourage the widespread adoption of intensive blood glucose management,” said the chairman and CEO of ALR, Sidney Chan. “Research shows that intensive management can avoid significant micro-vascular complications and comorbidities resulting from poor blood glucose control. Besides these serious health consequences for patients, the poor outcomes produced by improper insulin dosing lead to significant, unnecessary healthcare costs.”
http://youtu.be/rRxEKUE4tkA
“The proper dosing of insulin is one of the most important challenges in the clinical practice of diabetes,” added the president of the company, Bill Smith. “According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), insulin accounts for more than 10% of all drug dosing mistakes. Health-e-Connect with IDAC is an easy way for a prescribing clinician to optimize a patient’s insulin dose without an office visit while avoiding common errors.”
At the start of the year, Medicare began reimbursing physicians who use techniques and methods of remote care management of chronic conditions, like the Health-e-Connect system. ALR is currently negotiating the new reimbursement with healthcare providers, and remains focused on continuing research to improve patients’ quality of life. Among the company’s plans is the expansion of Health-e-Connect to other chronic conditions where treatment is dependent on variable information.
Glucose levels and insulin dosing are constant concerns among diabetics, and researchers all over the world are dedicated to reducing the obstacles to effective self-management and improve their quality of life. Among the most recent innovations is the first and only inhaled insulin, called Afrezza. The product, an insulin human inhalation powder, was developed by Sanofi and MannKind Corporation, and is already available in retail pharmacies across the United States, with a prescription.
