In a study, published in the journal Trends in Molecular Medicine, diabetics may soon be able to manage the disease with their smartphones. According to a study that shows that stimulating the body’s electrical network can help treat the condition.
The research indicates that data available on a wide range of nerve stimulating procedures – from ancient traditional acupuncture and the more modern electroacupuncture to neuromodulation, a procedure that involves implanting electrical devices to relieve chronic pain, pelvic disorders – can be advantageous for treating inflammatory disorders like arthritis and deadly infections like sepsis.
The researchers that carried out the study, said nerve stimulation provides therapeutic benefits in treating colitis, diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, paralysis, and life-threatening infections.
“Our bodies are a lot like rooms in a house. In order to see when you enter a darkened room, you need electricity to turn on the lights. Our body is like that room and has an electrical network that can be used to manipulate and help control how it works” said Luis Ulloa, from Rutgers University in the US.
Bioelectronic medicine, a new and more advanced version of electroacupuncture, is aiming to treat chronic diseases with electrical signals in the body by using miniature implantable devices to make sure organs function properly.
According to Ulloa, scientists need to do compare the data from all these nerve-stimulating procedures to the recent studies done in experimental and animal models.
This means recognizing the clinical advantages of varying procedures including acupuncture.
“In the future, I believe we will be connected to the cell phone in order to control our organ functions,” Ulloa stated.
Matt Schmidt of Diabetes Life Solutions also notes ” many people with Diabetes can use apps that tie into their CGM devices, so they can continue to monitor their type 1 diabetes. This data can also be used when applying for life insurance and health insurance. This is extremely convenient as often times this information will help life insurance for type 1 diabetes rates to be lower compared to those who don’t use Diabetes technology.”
Editor’s Note: Written with inputs from PTI
