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EC OCT 2017 Cyber Healthcare Snapshot VOLUME 4, OCTOBER 2017 CA Lic. #0414108 OVER HALF OF PEOPLE USE GOOGLE TO SELF-DIAGNOSE ILLNESS, SURVEY SAYS A study has revealed that over half of people are attempting to diagnose their illness by using Google before visiting a General Practitioner (“GP”). The study—conducted in the U.S. by healthcare support group Rock Health—found that 57% of participants went to Google before going to a GP. Half of those involved then searched for treatment options related to the illness they thought they had. The survey also found that 35% of patients asked their doctor to prescribe a specific drug, while 49% sought a specific treatment plan based on their internet diagnosis. Doctors say they are worried about the trend and that people could be misdiagnosing themselves. Patients are increasingly seeking out a diagnosis online and presenting this diagnosis and a treatment plan to their GPs. Medical professionals are concerned that the use of “Dr. Google” poses many dangers for patients who should consult their GP first if they have any health concerns. By self-diagnosing, patients are risking misinterpreting their symptoms which can cause unnecessary anxiety. However, the use of the internet for immediate information is often a reflection of access problems within many systems as well as the need for convenient but trusted knowledge management. These same patients still rank physicians, friends, and family highest when it comes to trustworthiness of sources suggesting a strong case for digital health and knowledge management systems in association with their provider. Source: The Irish Examiner DIABETICS COULD FIND THEMSELVES ON TRIAL FOR CONSUMER WEARABLES GluSense, which produces the glucose level monitoring implant “Glyde,” has announced an undisclosed investment from a VC philanthropy fund. The Israeli company's first product is an injectable implant that can last up to a year, wirelessly sending data to a consumer wearable like a smartwatch. The funding will support the device through its first clinical trial before regulatory clearance can be achieved. Currently, a continuous glucose monitor with a three-month lifespan is considered a long-term product. An injectable glucose sensor that lasts a year would prove a boon with the world's rapidly-growing number of diabetics. The company will also explore other uses for the technology such as a heartbeat monitor that continually and wirelessly streams health data to your phone. Source: Mobile Health News WEARABLE 24-HOUR DISPOSABLE INSULIN DELIVERY SYSTEM Managing Type II diabetes is a life-saving and ongoing chore. Most newly diagnosed patients start by learning to administer shots of insulin based on blood glucose level readings obtained by using a meter that reads a test strip with a blood sample from a finger prick. People have long-wished for a system that is simpler and easier. Closed-loop artificial pancreas systems [such as the Medtronic iPro2] that monitor blood sugar and administer insulin automatically as needed are still in early stages of market and medical acceptance. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps use varying technologies to offer diabetics intermediate steps between “finger-stick blood testing” (used with self-administered shots of insulin with needles) and closed loop systems. Valeritas, Inc.’s V-Go wearable insulin delivery device provides patients with a continuous basal insulin dosage for 24 hours and bolus insulin doses as needed at meal or snack times. Patients work with their own healthcare professional to determine the basal and bolus doses and a Valeritas Partner who provides help with training and support for the V-Go system. The V-Go continuous insulin pump doesn’t address or replace the need for blood glucose monitoring. V-Go provides an easy-to-use, discrete way to have continuous basal insulin feed with the ability to administer additional doses as needed using the same device. Source: Health Tech Insider We trust you will agree that there might be no better place to start the last issue of the year than to see what’s happening with “Dr. Google”. We also come full circle to our first issue and discuss more developments in “wearables”.
