Mechelen (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): The diabetes clinic at AZ Sint-Maarten in Mechelen created a device to help patients with disabilities like limited movement or vision problems, check their blood sugar independently improving their quality of life and independence.
The diabetes clinic at AZ Sint-Maarten in Mechelen has been having trouble helping patients with disabilities especially those who find it hard to prick their fingers to check their blood sugar. This includes people with limited movement from conditions like half-sided paralysis or those who are partly blind because of diabetes. These disabilities can make it really hard for patients to take care of their health on their own so they need help with a task that is usually easy.
How a diabetes clinic in Mechelen empowered patients with disabilities?
Ilde Van den Buck the team leader of the diabetes and foot clinic at AZ Sint-Maarten saw that patients with disabilities needed a tool to help them. The clinic had been looking for a device that would let these patients prick their fingers more easily and safely without needing help from others. This effort was to help patients gain more independence and improve their quality of life so they could manage their diabetes on their own. The clinic wanted to focus not only on making diabetes management easier but also on helping with the emotional and mental effects of losing independence because of physical challenges.
It has been said that Martine Blommen a diabetes patient had a touching moment when her 6-year-old grandchild had to help her with an insulin injection. While she appreciated the help it also made her sad because it reminded her of the challenges of managing her diabetes and how much independence she had lost. It was difficult for her to accept that she needed help from a child for something so important as grandparents usually take care of their grandchildren. This experience made her realize the need for solutions that could help her regain some independence not just to make things easier physically but also to improve her overall happiness.
Ilde Van den Bulk met with the IDLab at the University of Antwerp through a friend and they worked together to create a new device for diabetes patients. This device helps about 10% of patients check their blood sugar levels using just one hand making it easier for them to be independent. Martine Blommen a patient with one arm is really happy about it because she used to need help all the time but now she can do it herself. Its a small change that gives her back her freedom and helps others with vision problems too.
