CEO Kevin Sayer Discusses Recent Dexcom API Release

Dexcom, the main producer of CGM (steady glucose track) generation, just lately launched an API for app builders. “API” stands for utility programming interface — necessarily it grants third-party app builders the power to combine Dexcom CGM information into their apps. As a standard blogger who additionally occurs to be a Dexcom CGM consumer (and a more than pleased one, I may upload — the CGM has moderately actually modified my diabetic lifestyles!), I used to be given the danger to interview Dexcom’s CEO, Mr. Kevin Sayer, to speak a little bit about what this implies for Dexcom, what this implies for diabetes care groups, and most significantly, what this may imply for the tens of millions of folks dwelling with diabetes.

Higher integration for higher figuring out

One of the crucial key issues Mr. Sayer stressed out used to be that permitting the Dexcom platform to be built-in into the bigger app ecosystem will supply folks dwelling with diabetes (and their care groups) a significantly better figuring out of the a couple of variables affecting diabetes control. That is specifically thrilling for folks dwelling with Sort 2 diabetes. As Mr. Sayer famous, control of Sort 2 diabetes is influenced by way of an enormous selection of elements, together with with nutrition, workout, rigidity, sleep patterns, weight, and so a lot more. And since the ones with Sort 2 aren’t essentially on insulin (and subsequently managing blood glucose by way of managing an array of alternatives relatively than just matching insulin to meals), figuring out the intersection of a majority of these variables is an important. Then again, other folks with Sort 2 use the CGM at a far decrease frequency, one thing Mr. Sayer hopes to modify. “By way of integrating the CGM information right into a broader array of apps [such as nutrition apps, exercise apps, and so on], folks with Sort 2 can achieve an overly transparent image of the way those actions and variable are affecting their blood glucose.” He additionally hopes this integration could make it more uncomplicated for folks to incorporate CGM information of their diabetes care — finally, it’s more uncomplicated to test one app and notice the entire information than it’s to open 3 separate apps.

Every other house the place the combination of generation will probably be specifically helpful is in clinical information for diabetes care groups. The clinical box is transferring on this course already — as an example, I’ve an app on my telephone now that stocks my check effects with me, displays upcoming appointments, lists present prescriptions, and so on. I merely log in and there all of it is. And naturally, at the different finish, my care staff has that very same data and will reply to my requests (for say, prescription renewals). However consider if my CGM information may well be shared inside of that very same platform! Moderately than just reviewing a printout of my CGM information each three–four months, this is able to permit my care staff to trace my information daily. They might search for patterns, most likely even obtain indicators when explicit patterns of prime or low blood sugars emerged and keep up a correspondence with me between appointments for extra instant corrections. In step with Mr. Sayer, of the various inquiries from app builders up to now, information control for health-care suppliers has been probably the most powerful.

Flexibility

“This API lets in our CGM information to be tailor-fit into what every particular person affected person wishes when it comes to HOW that information is filtered, analyzed, proven, and arranged,” Mr. Sayer instructed me. As he famous, Dexcom has been a pace-setter within the construction of CGM generation for a few years, and the corporate feels (deservedly) assured within the generation they have got introduced into the arena — and once more, as an established consumer of a Dexcom CGM, I will be able to no doubt attest to the reliability and immense receive advantages it as presented me. Then again, he mentioned that doesn’t essentially imply they at all times have the most efficient resolution for a way that information will have to be arranged for each affected person, and the discharge of this API lets in that information to be built-in into any selection of apps that may prepare that information in very helpful new tactics for customers.

New probabilities, new demanding situations

Once I requested Mr. Sayer in regards to the demanding situations of creating this new platform, he defined that Dexcom if truth be told needed to increase a completely new department of body of workers to release this API. As he famous, it wasn’t merely a question of organizing and freeing a host of code for app builders, however relatively reimagining how CGM information suits into all the health-care and technological ecosystem. And naturally, information safety used to be additionally a concern. “A large number of power went into ensuring the information can be protected,” mentioned Mr. Sayer. This, in fact, is paramount nowadays, and Dexcom has been operating at the construction of this API for a long time now (suppose years, now not months), taking nice pains to verify this information is stored completely secure.

Having a look forward

Since I had Mr. Sayer at the telephone, I couldn’t lend a hand however ask one ultimate query. I requested him what he envisions for the way forward for the CGM, and what he thinks the panorama will appear to be 10–15 years from now. After jokingly asking if I had no less than an hour to discuss the entire probabilities, he mentioned the principle purpose for Dexcom these days is to get to some extent the place the CGM can totally exchange finger-stick blood glucose checking out. “We’re getting nearer always,” mentioned Mr. Sayer. As has been famous inside the pages of this very website online, in December of 2016 the Dexcom CGM turned into the primary to be authorized by way of the FDA for dosing — that means the information used to be deemed correct sufficient for use to make choices on how a lot insulin to take with no need to accomplish a finger-stick glucose check to make sure the tips. He famous the gadgets will proceed to get smaller and more uncomplicated to make use of (the following era 6 sensor will probably be smaller, with an extended insertion lifestyles, computerized push-button insertion, and additional will increase in accuracy).

Conclusion

I used to be identified with Sort 1 diabetes 23 years in the past. Once I began out, I used to be taking the previous “Common” insulin and NPH. It supposed each meal needed to comprise an identical quantity of carbs, an identical quantity of protein, and occur on the similar time on a daily basis. It supposed my lifestyles and my time table needed to revolve round my diabetes. Finger-stick testers had been smartly established, in fact, however pumps had been nonetheless a long run myth and not anything just like the CGM used to be even conceivable. To seem again to that point from the place I sit down these days is relatively astonishing. As I sort those phrases, I be capable to prevent, take hold of my iPhone, and notice my blood glucose in actual time (120! Great…). I nonetheless use photographs, however I take short-acting insulin and a as soon as day by day long-acting that permits me to devour once I wish to, and to check my insulin to the meals as an alternative of doing it the wrong way round. And my CGM lets in me to look precisely how my frame responds to the meals and insulin I take. Seeing the additional growth of this generation guarantees many new probabilities in how we deal with this illness. The CGM moderately actually modified my lifestyles, and so in wrapping up, let me merely thank Mr. Sayer and all the staff at Dexcom for proceeding to advance this generation. I will be able to’t wait to look what occurs subsequent!

Wish to be told extra about steady glucose tracking? Learn Sensing the Large Image With Steady Glucose Tracking” or watch Steady Glucose Tracking.”