New device tells doctors exactly how much insulin a patient needs

ALR Technologies is currently seeking approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a device that would instantly tell a doctor how much insulin a diabetes patient needs.
The device, called the Insulin Dose Adjustment Consultation (IDAC), works by drawing data from the blood glucose meter of a person with diabetes. The patient’s height, weight, and insulin dose history are also taken into account. Then the device applies an algorithm to this information, and tells the doctor exactly how much insulin to prescribe.
The IDAC has huge potential. Not only would it make insulin diagnosis a lot quicker, it also has the potential to be more accurate. Misdiagnosis of insulin dosage – whether too high or too low – can have severe consequences, such as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, which can lead to complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Bill Smith, president of ALR Technologies, said: “According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), insulin accounts for more than 10 per cent of all drug dosing mistakes.
“IDAC is an easy way for a prescribing clinician to optimise a patient’s insulin dose without an office visit while avoiding common errors.”
Sidney Cha, ALRT’s chief executive officer and chairma, said: “We expect the IDAC feature will encourage the widespread adoption of intensive blood glucose management.
“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.”