Otago researchers have invented a monitoring system for diabetics that could dramatically cut costs and improve lifestyles.
The technology would also mean an end to the painful finger-prick tests.
Twelve-year-old Bridie McGeown's been living with type 1 diabetes for almost a decade.
It dominates her life, and means she can't go to sleepovers because of the risk of overnight blood glucose level emergencies.
"So that limits that. And then I can't play certain sports - like I can't play rugby, even though I want to try," she says.
She's now part of an Otago University trial, looking at how continuous glucose monitoring technology can improve the life of young diabetes sufferers and their parents.
"The burden of monitoring those children's glucose levels is one of the biggest issues that they face," says Associate Professor Ben Wheeler, a paediatrician working for the University of Otago.
Six-year-old London was diagnosed with diabetes a year ago. Mum Kristin gave up fulltime work to care for him.
"I worry all day about where he is and what's happening. Particularly if he has sports events or anything like that," she says.
Instead of the painful finger prick test to measure glucose, they wear a sensor on their arm. It takes measurements every five minutes.
A bluetooth device on top sends that data to a smartwatch and multiple phones, creating warning alarms if there's an issue.
"Being able to just know that the information's coming to my phone, it's just sitting by the bed. An alarm rings if she's going high or low, and I can immediately react to it," says Bridie's mother, Jo Walshe.
Continuous monitoring technology isn't new, but the systems cost more than $7000 a year to run.
The Otago team has put this kit together for a third of that price.
"By doing this we're actually removing the burden of the testing and the stopping, and so they can keep on the go with a quick look at a watch," Prof Wheeler says.
Seventeen countries already fund continuous glucose monitoring systems.
It's hoped that proving the benefits of the technology - and offering a cheaper solution - could encourage our Government to fund it, helping improve the lives of diabetes sufferers here.
