Embracing new technology to overcome severe hypoglycaemia in a patient with visual impairment

Abstract

A 56-year-old man with type 1 diabetes, who had been blind since childhood, was experiencing frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia requiring medical assistance. The use of insulin pump therapy or flash glucose monitoring devices was not suitable due to the lack of accessibility of these systems to patients with visual impairment. With the support of his secondary care team, he began using the Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring system, which features an open platform for wireless data transmission to smart devices, allowing him to access non-visual feedback via his smartphone. This has eliminated his episodes of severe hypoglycaemia, in addition to significantly improving his quality of life and overall glycaemic control. Copyright © 2021 John Wiley & Sons.