Today is world Diabetes day.

According to Diabetes UK, 4.4 million people are currently living with Diabetes in the UK. This is in addition to a predicted 1.2 million people, who could be living with type 2 diabetes without being diagnosed.

Unfortunately, this means that the diabetes care market is big, and growing, especially as the number of those suffering with diabetes increases every year.

What Causes Diabetes?

Diabetes occurs when the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does produce.

There are a number of reasons that a person might develop diabetes including:

Type 1 Diabetes

Autoimmune: Type 1 diabetes can develops when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. Whilst the cause of this attack is unknown, it could be due to genetics or it could be viral.

Genetics: Having a family member with type 1 diabetes can make a person more likely to develop it, though the exact genetic link is still unknown.

Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin resistance: In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin, meaning it doesn’t use it the way it should. Over time, the pancreas can’t produce enough insulin to control blood sugar, meaning a person has to inject insulin to top this up.

Obesity: Being overweight and not doing exercise can put a person at risk of diabetes. This is because fat cells produce hormones that can block the body from using insulin the way it needs to.

Diet: Diets high in sugar and processed foods can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes developing.

Aside from type 1 and type 2 diabetes, women can also temporarily experience gestational diabetes during pregnancy. This is because hormones affect insulin working properly, which can negatively impact blood sugar.

Likewise, any diseases that affect the pancreas might also cause diabetes, given they can impact insulin production.

How Is Tech Improving Diabetes Care?

Tech is improving diabetes care in a number of ways. For those with type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas does not make insulin, tech devices are helping to provide more regular and accurate insulin shots.

For those with type 2 diabetes, care can be managed through lifestyle – including weight loss, blood-sugar management and diet. A variety of apps and devices have been developed to help people track this more accurately.

For example, tech that helps people stick to a healthier lifestyle can ensure that symptoms of the disease don’t get worse over time.

But physical symptoms aside, tech has also helping people find community and support for dealing with diabetes. This can be a huge comfort for those battling with this disease.

Here, in honour of international Diabetes day, we take a look at some startups that are helping to improve diabetes care.

1. Zyla – Personalised Diabetes Care

Zyla gives users access to personalised diabetes care that helps promote better wellbeing both physically and mentally.

Through the app, Zyla gives patients personalised care plans based on lifestyle, diet, medication and exercise.

As an all in one care platform, it has helped over 500,000 lives to date.

2. Tandem Diabetes Care – Better Insulin Delivery

Tandem Diabetes Care has developed an insulin pump that automatically adjusts insulin according to blood sugar level.

Small and compact, and able to offer over 300 units of insulin, the device allows people to more easily and accurately manage their blood sugar.

Diabeloop – AI Glucose Monitoring

French startup Diabeloop has created an AI driven device to help with insulin and diabetes management.

The company’s hero product is a glucose monitoring device, which calculates the right dose of insulin to put through an insulin pump.

Using AI, it analyses a patient’s physiology and lifestyle to create a predictive system that works. This allows people to rest easy and take the stress out of insulin management.

Glooko – Data For Diabetes

Glooko is a care platform, designed to connect people with chronic conditions.

Syncing with a number of devices, the app is able to give people recommendations around their care. Then, this data is put into a larger system, allowing healthcare providers to look at macro trends and more easily assess risk. This not only gives patients better care, but better data for doctors, improving outcomes.

DiabetesWise – Device Advice

DiabetesWise helps people figure out which device is best for them through their online educational platform.

Given that information can be hard to gather and confusing, it’s a great way for those with diabetes to make informed choices.

The company gives patients access to quizzes and information, giving them personal recommendations about what could work best for them.

ZOE – Blood Sugar Control

ZOE takes a science-based approach to nutrition, tracking blood sugar and giving users personalised meal plans as a result of it.

By analysing blood sugar levels after food, the app is able to understand what foods are potentially harmful, helping people take a more preventative approach to diabetes care.

Aeye Health – AI Diabetes Testing

Aeye Health uses AI to diagnose diabetic retinopathy – a complication of diabetes which can lead to blindness if not treated.

With a non-invasive test, the device can help catch any eye issues early, meaning they are less likely to develop into something severe.