Google to collaborate on 'next-generation' glucose monitoring devices

[IDemo]

It has been announced that the life sciences team at Google will be joining forces with DexCom, a company specializing in glucose monitoring devices, to develop a new low-cost bandage-sized sensor for people with diabetes.

In addition to being small and low-cost, the new wearable sensor will be disposable and usable by people with all types of diabetes. The device will be connected to The Cloud and provide real-time information.

DexCom state that the aim of the partnership is to develop next-generation continuous glucose monitoring products that will be "substantially smaller and much less expensive than existing technologies."

"This collaboration is another step toward expanding monitoring options and making it easier for people with diabetes to proactively manage their health," states Andrew Conrad, head of the life sciences team at Google.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/298106.php

While this may prove highly useful, do you really want or need your BG's residing in the Cloud? I can see data "sharing" with insurance providers as a for-instance.

[HeiressofBickworth]

1. Perhaps there would be a use for this

for Type 1 diabetics who need to monitor blood sugars many times a day in order to determine doses of insulin. However, Type 2 diabetics may not be served well by this as constant monitoring isn't necessary. For example, I'm on one shot of insulin a day -- regardless of blood sugar levels.

Call me old-fashioned, if you will, but I think that reliance on technology has its place, but technology is subject to errors and information theft and perhaps, even fraudulent changes which may affect dosage of insulin. It is possible to keep records to share with one's physician without posting the results to a potentially vulnerable internet place. Call it what you will, the "cloud" is just another set of servers.

I also have an issue with insurers having access to such detailed information. What would they do with it? Increase your insurance rates if some bean-counter doesn't like the results?