Meet Smart: Intelligent Innovation in Glycemia Control

A chronic, silent disease that has already become a public health problem worldwide, diabetes mellitus affects about 17 million Brazilians¹.

In the world ranking, Brazil occupies the 5th position in incidence of the disease, second only to losing it to China, India, the United States and Pakistan. The estimate of the incidence of the disease in 2030 reaches 21.5 million. This data is in Atlas of Diabetes of the International Federation of Diabetes (IDF) ².

The Ministry of Health reveals that the condition is the fourth main cause of death in Brazil. It is estimated that more than 10% of the country’s population lives with diabetes³and the number has been growing every year (comparative with 2021, when they were 9%)³.

And the worst is that about 46% of diabetics in the country do not know that they have the disease, or do not take care properly. Lack of a diagnosis and treatment can lead to serious complications such as blindness, kidney failure and amputations³.

Knowing its causes and symptoms, as well as the available treatments and forms of control, is the way to live well with the disease.

The causes and prevention of diabetes

The disease is caused by insufficient production or insulin malabsorption, a hormone produced by the blood glucose pancreas and ensures energy for the body⁴.

The condition can lead to increased blood glucose, and when these rates are high, there are risk of heart complications, arteries, eyes, kidney and nerves⁴.

The disease is caused by genetic factors, lack of healthy habits or aspects such as pressure or high cholesterol, changes in blood triglyceride rate; Overweight (especially if the fat is concentrated around the waist); Chronic kidney problems; gestational diabetes; polycystic ovary syndrome and the use of glycocorticoid class medicines, among others⁴.

To prevent, the recommendation is to adopt healthy habits, such as practicing physical activities, following a nutritious and balanced diet, keeping weight under control and avoiding the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, as well as regular check up⁴.

The various types

There are several types of diabetes mellitus, which can present themselves in various ways. But whatever the symptom, it is essential that the patient seeks a health service to start treatment.

• Type 1: Occurs when there is destruction of insulin -producing cells, due to defect of the immune system in which antibodies attack cells that produce insulin². It occurs in about 5 to 10% of diabetics. It usually arises in childhood or adolescence, but can be diagnosed in adults as well. People with close relatives who have or have the disease should have exams regularly to accompany blood glucose². Among the main symptoms are the desire to urinate several times; frequent hunger; constant thirst; weight loss; weakness; fatigue; nervousness; mood swings; nausea and vomiting². Treatment requires the daily use of insulin by injectable and/or other medicines to control blood glucose².

• Type 2: It results from insulin resistance and disability in its secretion. It occurs in about 90% of diabetics and their cause is mainly related to overweight, physical inactivity, high triglycerides, hypertension and inadequate eating habits^2.4. The main symptoms are frequent infections; visual change (blurred vision); Difficulty in wound healing; tingling on the feet and emergence of boils². Treatment does not depend on the application of insulin, but can be controlled by medicines taught orally².

• Gestational: is the decrease in glucose tolerance, first diagnosed in pregnancy, and may or may not persist after delivery. This type affects between 2 and 4% of all pregnant women and implies increased risk of later development of diabetes for the mother and baby⁴. Every pregnant woman should take the diabetes exam regularly during prenatal care. Women with the disease are at greater risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery⁴.
• Other types: are caused by genetic defects associated with other diseases or the use of medicines².

Revolution Diabetes control

Those who live with the disease need to constantly follow blood glucose levels.

The good news is that in this respect, technology has advanced stride. If before the patient needed to use a glycosimeter, which measures hair glucose through a drop of blood obtained with a finger bite, today the patient already has the Smart Medlevensohna device that performs continuous or regular monitoring of glucose levels, indicated for use from 2 years of age.

The device performs accurate and automatic readings every 5 minutes, and the data collected by the sensor is transmitted via Bluetooth to the AIDEx application, which records the history of measurements and the trends of glucose rates.

Smart also allows you to record events that affect glucose rates, such as performing exercise, and creating alerts for hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.

Discreet and practical, it measures 35mm high x 21.8mm wide, in order to provide greater comfort in performing daily activities.

And it’s easy to use: just put the device on the back of the arm or abdomen and it starts to measure blood glucose automatically, without bites, pain or troublesome. It can be used from 2 years of age.

With Smart you measure your blood glucose automatically, intelligently, without having to stop what you are doing. Change measure every day for measuring all day.

To learn more, access the website.

References

1. Osvaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). Diabetes. Available at: https://fiocruz.br/diabetes. Accessed April 30, 2025.
2. Virtual Health Library. Ministry of Health. National Diabetes Day. Available at: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/26-6-dia-nacional-diabetes-4/. Accessed April 30, 2025.
3. Agência Brasil. More than 10% of Brazilians live with diabetes. Available at: https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/saude/noticia/2023-11/mais-de-10-dos-brasileiros–de-com-diabetes. Accessed April 30, 2025.
4. Ministry of Health. Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus). Available at: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/assuntos/saude-de-az/d/diabetes#:~:text=Factors%20de%20Risco,Medicates%20da%20class%20dos%20glicocorticoids. Accessed April 30, 2025.

This content was originally published in Meet Smart: Intelligent Innovation in Glycemia Control on CNN Brazil.

Source: CNN Brasil