Investments in diabetes tech

The Scottish Government is taking steps to deliver life-changing care to the 35,000 adults and 30,000 children with type 1 diabetes in Scotland.

A total of £8.8 million is set to be invested into closed loop system technology, which use glucose sensors linked to an insulin pump to calculate how much insulin a person needs. This would mean the removal of manual calculations and the lessening of time and energy spent by patients.

Neil Gray, Scotland’s health secretary, said of closed loop systems: “Closed loop systems are an incredible asset for those living with type 1 diabetes. It not only improves sugar control and reduces the risk of long-term complications, but also removes a lot of the burden that people with type 1 diabetes face on a day-to-day basis.”

The technology aims to make it easier for people to manage their diabetes, while reducing the risk of health complications and the 70 per cent of all NHS diabetes spend that goes to treating kidney failure, heart disease, blindness and foot amputations.