Improved Diabetes Management with REACTION
IMM develops a sensor for blood glucose level measurement within the EU project REACTION
Mainz 25th May, 2010 - The new European Research Project REACTION will improve continuous control of blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes and may lead to reduced risk of long term complications and lower mortality rates. The project aims at improving long term management of diabetes by providing a professional service platform for doctors, carers and patients
Within the REACTION project IMM develops a subcutaneous applicable and minimally invasive sensor for continuous control of the blood glucose level. The sensor is based on the optical absorption spectroscopy in near infrared spectrum (NIR). Later on the sensor shall be implemented into a portable sensor unit which will be applied plaster-like by the patient.
Tight control of the blood glucose level has been shown to be vital for good diabetes management and insulin therapy. Good glucose control requires frequent measurement of blood glucose levels and complicated algorithms for assessing the insulin dose needed to adjust for short term variations in activity, diet and stress. Typically the blood sugar level is detected by taking a drop of blood from the fingertip and analysing it in a reading device based on Glucose-Oxidase.
The aim of the REACTION is to develop an intelligent data management platform with monitoring and feedback services that can assist healthcare professionals, informal carers and patients in managing diabetes insulin treatment, help patients understand their disease, support self-management and provide a safe environment by monitoring potentially life-threatening situations.
The sensors connect through a wireless network to various hospital systems and advanced mathematical models that can assess the patients condition and provide directions for insulin therapy and possible crisis situations. The platform offers closed-loop feedback in both hospital environments and in outpatient clinics to patients, carers and healthcare professionals at the point of care with important information for effectively control of blood glucose levels in all situations so that health risks are minimised and the lives of patients improved.
REACTION stands for “Remote Accessibility to Diabetes Management and Therapy in Operational healthcare Networks”. The REACTION-project is a 4-year research project funded by the European Commission as part of the 7th Framework Programme’s objective on Personal Health Systems. There are 16 partners in the Consortium from 10 countries: Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Greece, UK, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Switzerland.
Read more about the project here: www.reaction-project.eu
German press release: Verbessertes Diabetes Management dank REACTION
