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Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) or juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune disease that in recent years has recorded an alarming annual increase (approximately 5%).

The causes of its occurrence are not fully known.

Treatment of T1DM includes insulin administration, a balanced diet, exercise and systematic blood sugar control as well as ongoing education & psychological support for the child and the family.

Modern insulin therapy in children can be done in two ways: multiple daily injections (4 or more injections per day) and the insulin pump, i.e. continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion that replaces the need for frequent injections by providing fast-acting insulin 24 hours a day.

The rapid development of technology has significantly affected the management of diabetes.

New self-testing devices and sensors, which no longer require finger pricks, as well as new smart insulin pumps have now become available, making life easier for people with diabetes.

Digital applications offer a smart way to self-manage diabetes by utilizing continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) and insulin pumps.

The continuous glucose monitoring systems without the use of a lancing device that we have at our disposal have dramatically improved the quality of life of people who monitor their blood glucose on a regular basis.

Having a complete picture of blood sugar fluctuations (what percentage of the time it is within the target or TimeInRange) helps healthcare professionals and patients themselves to modify insulin doses and eating habits in order to achieve the desired regulation.

In addition, some applications are available on smartphones that allow other people (e.g. parents) to simultaneously monitor (real-time) their children’s measurements from a distance, which in the case of young children reduces parental anxiety and the risk of hypoglycemia.

By using insulin pumps, we have the ability to have a temporary or alternative basal rate, to administer very small doses (0.025 units) and to adjust the dose of mealtime insulin depending on the type of food, exercise and other emergencies.

The latest technology pumps that were recently released in Greece automatically adjust the insulin delivery and correct high glucose levels every 5 minutes, around the clock.

This is, in other words, a hybrid system that is a step before the complete artificial pancreas.

It seems that we are quite close to obtaining the artificial pancreas (complete regulation without our own intervention) since there are two categories of systems under development on the horizon, the monohormone circuit that uses insulin and the bionic system that uses glucagon & insulin.

In conclusion, the use of technology in diabetes management offers flexibility and comfort as well as a better quality of life for people with diabetes with fewer immediate and long-term complications.

The optimistic message for people with diabetes is that science and technology are advancing at a rapid pace.

It is almost certain that in the near future the artificial pancreas will be available, perhaps even a radical solution such as pancreatic islet transplantation or the use of stem cells.