Wireless solutions for managing diabetes: A review and future prospects

Abstract

Diabetes is rapidly growing in prevalence worldwide. The number of people with diabetes was 171 million in 2000 and will grow to 366 million by 2030. One reason for this is a growing elderly population, but younger people are increasingly likely to develop diabetes due to an increase in mean weight and a decrease in exercise. The increasing resources needed to modify lifestyle and appropriately manage diabetes are a worldwide healthcare burden. Promising solutions arise among others from wireless technologies and mobile solutions. In this paper, the needs for information, change in lifestyle, health monitoring, and management of medication and complications in diabetes are analysed. They form a basis for following review of available wireless solutions for managing diabetes. Finally, future prospects of mobile management of diabetes are discussed.