New technology aims to improve experience for pregnant people with diabetes in Norfolk
They're the first to use this software in pregnancy
Women in Norfolk who develop gestational diabetes are benefiting from new technology which makes it easier for clinicians at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) to monitor their blood sugar levels.
Clinicians recommend that people who develop diabetes during pregnancy test their blood sugar readings four times a day by pricking their finger and using a meter.
Previously people would write these in a diary and to bring to appointments or email them to the maternal diabetes team.
Recently, patients were able start using an app to log their recordings, but they still needed to bring this to appointments or email the information.
Now, a chip in the meter can send the reading directly to the app and the hospital systems via cloud-based software.
This information can then be instantly viewed by clinicians at the hospital.
Consultant Obstetrician Gemma Partridge said: “Using the cloud-based software means we can have virtual appointments which often suit our service users more.
"This new software allows us to log in and see any trends so that we can review blood sugars and make tailored treatment recommendations if necessary. Even if people do see us face to face, it means they don’t need to remember to print or email their readings, so it just makes their lives easier.”
She added: “We have a brilliant team of diabetes specialist midwives who provide a lot of care between routine appointments and the software enables them to be much more responsive because they don’t need to wait for readings to be sent to them, and it reduces the administrative burden on them.”
NNUH’s maternal diabetes team is the first to use this software in pregnancy.