As the parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes, I'm always checking the latest research and data on managing diabetes, new medications and the amazing, advancing technology.

We use a CGM or Continuous Glucose Monitor, and these recent innovations are improving blood glucose management and offering health benefits beyond just regulating blood sugar levels.

Though we are not near a cure yet, improving quality of life for my daughter is always at the top of my mind. So here I will be exploring some of the new treatment options associated with the disease. I'm focusing on Type 1 Diabetes however many of these could also be useful for those with Type 2.

Improvements for Quality of Life

You may ask what do we find the most helpful on a practical level and what gives us the most freedom. These are some of the items we find most beneficial.

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)

Without a doubt the Dexcom CGM we use is a life changing piece of equipment. I wouldn't be without it. These 'CGMs' made by various brands, are revolutionising how we can manage blood sugar levels.

They are a wearable device which provides real-time data of what my child's blood sugar level is every 5 mins day and night. It sends her level to a smartphone and her teachers can see it to manage the condition at school. Not only that but it will tell you if here level is starting to drop, rise and will alarm if she's going to have a hypo. It has also almost entirely removed the need for finger pricks. Given she used to have 7-10 a day this makes a difference!

Insulin Pumps

Insulin pumps are another wearable device which have a small tube inserted under the skin, controlled by a phone or small device display. The user tells the phone/device how much carbohydrates they are about to eat and it calculates the insulin they need for that meal. It then delivers it to the body at the touch of a button. Removing the need for injections of insulin.

My daughter is finally moving to one of these devices in the next month. There are many different types to research and see what would suit your needs best along with discussing with your health care provider. They offer the benefit of no injections, more freedom when eating, more control as you can turn them off while exercising, reducing the possibility of hypos. There is a general better level control for most people on an insulin pump.

Custom footwear

Proper footwear is very important for people with diabetes. Be sure to have your feet/ your child's feet checked at your hospital appointment if you’re worried and be aware for any visible differences or feelings as well.

An orthopaedic specialist can help with choosing shoes to protect your feet or there is the option to have custom orthotics using insole software for diabetes. These can be crucial for preventing and managing future complications. Custom insoles can also provide enhanced comfort and support, which is particularly important for individuals with diabetes who may experience nerve damage and foot pain.

Pouches for Medical Phones and Devices

One of our must have tools for managing Type 1 Diabetes is a pouch for my daughter's medical phone. It sounds a bit basic and not of high importance but having this belt with her phone in, means she can go out to play without carrying a phone or being followed by a teacher. She can play sports after school, she now has it on whilst she's doing Kung Fu. Today she went off on a school trip with it on and I can see her blood sugar levels on my phone from home.

It really gives a large amount of freedom to not be holding something all the time, and it just be on your person. Especially for a child as they are not used to having a bag with them all the time. Which brings me to...

Equipment bags

As you might expect that there is quite a bit to carry around when you are giving yourself insulin throughout the day. When my daughter has a hypo at school she has apple juice as this will bring up your blood sugar levels the quickest. So she keeps juices and jelly babies in her school bag. However you really need a little container for things like your injection pens, needles, your finger prick kit, your emergency injection should you loose consciousness. And how do you keep this altogether?

We've found these bags to hold the most amount, without feeling like you are lugging your life around with you each day! You can also get some with an insulated interior so you can put your insulin in them when you travel and add a Frio pad to keep it cool.

Diabetes Medications for Type 1

For Type 1 diabetes, the primary treatment involves insulin therapy. Generally a person with Type 1 would need rapid acting insulin with food, we use Novorapid and a long acting insulin such as Levemir.

There are newer insulin options being developed all the time and some are already in use. Often what you use is down to your consultant, your personal preference and trying what seems to work best with your body.

For example, Tresiba is often used as an alternative to Levemir and is supposed to sting less when injected. Humalog is faster acting and preferred by some due to this, however it has a shorter duration.

A newer option is Afrezza which is a rapid acting insulin which you inhale and has been approved in the USA for people over 18 years. Clinical trials are underway to offer this for children.

New Medications for Type 2 Diabetes

The most commonly seen prescription medicine in the past year for diabetes actually are aimed at those with Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 is where your body still produces insulin but you have become resistant to it.

Common Type 2 diabetes medications are Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and gastrointestinal peptide (GIP) receptor agonists. These work by enhancing the body's ability to produce its own insulin, leading to improved glycemic control and lower glucose levels.

Another helpful option is DPP-4 inhibitors which prevent the breakdown of beta cells, which play a key role in blood glucose levels regulation. Meanwhile, synthetic insulin formulations like insulin glargine and insulin degludec injection offer long-acting solutions for those who require insulin injections.

Lastly you may have seen adverts for Type 2 diabetes, weight reduction drugs such as Ozempic or Mounjaro, some of which are available on the NHS. These now help Type 2 patients looking to lose weight while controlling high blood sugar levels and lowering blood pressure. These medications can reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.

Future of Diabetes Treatment

Everyone I speak to about their diagnosis tells me they were told, in ten years there will be a cure. And yet here we are. I am hopeful that one of the many ongoing clinical trials will find a cure even if it's a practical one. This means that you have not cured the disease but you have incorporated something into the patient which makes the body produce insulin with help.

Publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine and organisations like the American Diabetes Association are supporting research into safer and more effective diabetes drugs. These tend to be researched and approved in the US first and then come to the UK.

However, by working with your NHS healthcare provider, we can all find different ways to manage and prevent diabetes complications. For Type 2 patients the medications above can help and maintain better health through lifestyle changes and a healthy diet.

We have only decided now 6 years on that we will try an insulin pump. So if you are considering a new treatment, consult your healthcare team to determine the type of device or medication best suited to your condition. When my daughter was diagnosed we were told we couldn't have a CGM as these were just for people who weren't managing their condition well. Now the consensus has changed and doctors understand that these can help everyone.

It's an ever changing world in Diabetes tech and helpful improvements of different types are being researched and invented all the time. Meaning the future of diabetes care looks increasingly promising.