GlucoTel: Online diary for diabetics

Project field

Health and support

Partners

BodyTel Europe GmbH, Deutsche Telekom / T-Mobile

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Das System unterstützt Patienten bei der Heimdiagnostik von chronischen Krankheiten, der Prävention oder medizinisch verordneten Änderungen im Lebensstil

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Das System unterstützt Patienten bei der Heimdiagnostik von chronischen Krankheiten, der Prävention oder medizinisch verordneten Änderungen im Lebensstil

Brief description

People suffering from diabetes mellitus who have to take insulin must check their blood sugar levels regularly. This is the only way to determine the correct amount of insulin. To monitor and evaluate these levels better and more simply in future, T-City offers doctors and patients in Friedrichshafen the “GlucoTel” diabetes management system. The solution developed by the BodyTel telemedicine company documents the patient’s blood sugar levels automatically in an online diary.

Patients measure their blood sugar level several times a day, as usual. However, whilst up to now they had to note down the data by hand, now GlucoTel automatically transmits it from the monitoring device onto the patient’s cell phone, using Bluetooth. The Internet-enabled device then sends the values directly to an online diary, where they are stored long-term. In addition, diabetes patients can enter extra information in the database mobile or online, such as the number of bread units consumed, details of insulin treatment or doctor’s visits. Thus a complete diary is created, which prepares the information in graphic form and enables complex statistical evaluations.

The portal uses the same security standards as apply to online banking: Only the patients themselves and persons authorized by them, such as the GP, can access the values. If desired, patients can also activate an emergency call at GlucoTel: If blood sugar levels are above or below the levels previously set, the system immediately sends out a text message, e-mail or fax to a carer, such as the doctor, or a family member.

Project aim

The aim of GlucoTel is on the one hand to make the lives of diabetes patients simpler and safer, and thus increase their quality of life. On the other hand, GlucoTel is also supposed to make the work of doctors more efficient and to support them in monitoring the health of their patients even better than before.

Benefits

Instead of asking his patients to make regular visits to the practice for check-ups, the doctor can now access his patient’s online diary via the Internet. Thus he is better informed about the patient’s blood sugar levels at all times. In addition, he has the chance to intervene more quickly than before in problem cases where the values vary dramatically. And the life of diabetics becomes easier too. They have to do no more than measure his blood sugar levels, and GlucoTel does all the rest. In addition, the emergency call service gives both patients and their relatives a far greater sense of security.

Project status

Diabetics who wish to try out GlucoTel and contribute to improving the system through their feedback can take part in the GlucoTel beginners program. For this, the users receive a free GlucoTel glucose meter, and a cell phone as a loan including a SIM card for transmitting the data. The patient can then use the system immediately, without having to pay any purchase or telecommunications costs. Even after completion of the program, the participant is allowed to keep the monitoring device.