Americans are plagued by diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. While we are largely led to believe that Europeans are healthier than we are (a perception that is even marketed to us through such titles as “Why French Women Don’t Get Fat”), there are 55 million Europeans who are living with diabetes. Recognizing this, GSMA, a provider of mobile and connected living solutions, has launched The GSMA mHealth Grand Tour.
The tour is a 13-day cycling challenge that stretches from Brussels to Barcelona, in which GSMA will be joined by Dexcom, ANT+, McCann Health, Sony Mobile, HMM, Orange and Etisalat. The tour is inspired by the role that physical active plays in managing and preventing diabetes, which Professor Trenell, of Newcastle University, notes may be recognized, but lacks depth and breadth of study. Throughout the cycling challenge, mHealth applications will measure the effects of multi-day endurance on blood glucose levels on cycling performance. Both diabetic and non-diabetic athletes will be measured in the study. In a recent statement, Professor Trenell said that it is the hope of those involved that the information gathered “will benefit all people with diabetes and those at risk of diabetes.”
mHealth may play a growing role in helping people who have diabetes and who are at risk of developing diabetes as more and more applications are developed. One app, mySugr, helps diabetics track their blood sugar. Such mHealth solutions should continue to improve self-care and remote monitoring.
Jake Leach, the vice president of research and development for Dexcom, the company providing a continuous glucose monitor to be worn by the cyclists, offered the message that “people living with diabetes can achieve any goal that people without diabetes can achieve.” He added, “Complete mHealth solutions, which begin with sensor, provide patient feedback and arrive in the clinician’s inbox, make health goals safe and achievable.”
Edited by
Alisen Downey
