
20. Wearing medical devices in a purpose-like fashion.
When we think about having to walk around with a medical device attached to us, it may not seem all that pleasant. However, you may not think about how a fitness tracker, such as a Fitbit, can be used as a medical device. Some people may wear them as a fancy watch that tells them how many steps they took, while others may wear it to keep track of their heart rate for medical reasons. However, there is a new trend in wearables for medical technology that is more specific.
If you have diabetes, you may or may not have heard of a continuous glucose monitor or CGM. It’s precisely what the name says for those who have not or aren’t sure what that is. These allow the user to see the immediate impacts of food and exercise and shape their lifestyles accordingly. They can also catch cases of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia immediately. Wearable CGMs remove the need for intermittent glucose testing, so no more finger pricking several times a day, and instead keeps track of one’s blood sugar levels in real-time.