Tech could prevent ‘silent threat’ of low blood sugar in Alzheimer’s patients with diabetes

Researchers are redesigning technology to detect low blood sugar in older adults with both diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists are developing user-friendly health information tools and technology to enhance accessibility to older adults with both diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. 

Without numerous finger sticks, these tools and technology will be designed to provide patients, caregivers, and clinicians with glucose metrics needed to diagnose hypoglycemia and identify treatment options.

Older adults with Alzheimer’s and Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes have a high risk of low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia, which is often undetected. Hypoglycemia can cause dizziness, confusion, mood changes, hospitalisation, and even death. Diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycemia can prevent complications.

Regenstrief Institute Research Scientist April Savoy, PhD, a human factors engineer and health services researcher, said: “Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease, and hypoglycemic events can accelerate cognitive decline. That’s why we are focusing on detection of low blood sugar in these older adults with both Alzheimer’s and diabetes.”

Dementia hinders the ability of patients and caregivers to manage blood sugar levels, potentially resulting in hypoglycemic events and further cognitive loss. 

Repeated finger sticks to test blood sugar levels, following a prescribed diet and exercising can be difficult for patients with Alzheimer’s. Use of traditional blood sugar monitors may be problematic for individuals with Alzheimer’s as well as caregivers.

The study, ‘Enhancing shared decision-making to prompt and guide individualized care for people with Alzheimer’s Disease and diabetes’ will enrol 75 pairs of older adults with both Alzheimer’s and diabetes, and their family caregivers. Twenty clinicians who see patients with both conditions will also participate.

Research into diabetes and dementia 

Other studies have investigated how poor management of diabetes increases risk of dementia. But this new research, implementing a human factors engineering approach, targets older adults who have already been diagnosed with both Alzheimer’s and diabetes.

Dr Savoy and colleagues will investigate unique population dynamics, including how much data about glucose levels are needed, how to acquire them, and what works to enable shared decision-making for all involved, including patients, caregivers, and clinicians.

“We hope to increase awareness and empower patients and caregivers to make individualised, patient-focused decisions about effective treatment options,” said Dr Savoy.

“Our goal is to prevent hypoglycemia for the growing population of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.”

With the use of human-centred design, the authors indicate that they will be able to identify and inform continuous glucose monitoring designs for people with dementia and diabetes, broadening access to continuous glucose monitoring with what they believe is the attainable goal of increasing detection and treatment of the silent threat posed by low blood sugar.

The research is supported by a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging.