On July 26, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission and the Food and Drug Administration held a joint meeting, “Enabling the Convergence of Communications and Medical Systems: Ways to Update Regulatory and Information Processes.”  JDRF Director of Regulatory Affairs, Campbell Hutton, represented JDRF as a roundtable discussion participant in the “Healthcare Provider, Clinician & Patient Perspective” session.

The JDRF representative urged FDA and FCC to consider how they can encourage more use of wireless technology in diabetes devices.  For many patients with type 1 diabetes, medical devices such as blood glucose meters and insulin pumps are invaluable tools to manage their disease.  Enabling these technologies with wireless technology has made them more convenient, accessible and easier to use.  But, much more can and should be done to more fully integrate wireless and mobile technology into diabetes devices to help patients improve health outcomes, reduce complications, and achieve better glycemic control.  More involvement of wireless technology will add a layer of safety by allowing transmission of information to caregivers and healthcare personnel in addition to the patient to maximize care.

Examples of how wireless technology could be used in diabetes devices include the integration of multiple devices such as receivers for an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor into one, or all into a cell phone.  Another invaluable use of wireless could involve remote monitoring of glucose levels – a text message or email of a patient’s glucose level from a blood glucose meter or continuous glucose meter sent in real-time to parents or other caregivers.  And finally, an automated glucose management system that links an insulin pump with a continuous glucose meter could make use of wireless communication between the components and could even involve control of the system through a mobile device.