Under the Framework Programme 7 ICT Challenge 5 the European Commission has granted 7,1 million euros over the next four years to a consortium of 13 partners joined in developing DIAdvisor - a unique tool for people with diabetes to better predict and thereby control their blood glucose level. The consortium involves university experts in data identification, model design and predictive control, clinical diabetologists specialised in innovative devices for insulin delivery and glucose monitoring, industrial leaders in diabetes therapy and technologies for continuous data collection, analysis and integration, specialists in risk assessment and management as well as final users by the participation of the European region of the International Diabetes Federation.
DIAdvisor is a device aimed at helping people with diabetes to better manage their disease, in terms of effectiveness as well as in terms of safety and quality of life.
"Sustained improvement of diabetes control by using insulin is often associated with increased events of low blood glucose levels affecting the quality of life. Alternatively, the quality of life is improved but with no significant improvement of control. To ease getting it both ways, help to the individual patient is needed," says Project Coordinator Jens Ulrik Poulsen, Novo Nordisk A/S.
By a unique prediction of how blood glucose levels will develop short term, DIAdvisor is expected to minimise time spent outside the normal glucose levels. Prediction will come from glucose measurements, insulin delivery data and specific patient parameters, and result in advice on how to adapt individual therapy in order to obtain more stable disease control in everyday life. It is reported that in hospitalised patients, reduction of high blood glucose levels has been related to better outcomes including reduced time of hospital stay and lowered incidence of complications. In the longer term, each reduction of HbA1c (a measure for mean blood glucose level) by 15% would lead to a 10% reduction in diabetic complications.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a severe problem all over Europe and in the rest of the world. According to the European Health Report 2002 of the World Health Organization (WHO), in Europe more than 22.5 million people have DM. During an EU Workshop organised by the Diabetes Federation of Ireland and the International Diabetes Federation in April 2004 the figure of 60 million people was mentioned, based on the assumption that more than 50% of those concerned do not know that they are affected.
"Europe's growing obesity epidemic, its ageing population and our increasingly sedentary lifestyle have led to an explosion in the incidence of diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, across the European Union. As the need for insulin treatment is growing, so is the need for tools to help the patients to comply with the prescribed therapy," says leader of the project's clinical work package Professor Eric Renard, CHU, Montpellier.
The full list of participants in the DIAdvisor consortium is: Novo Nordisk A/S (Denmark), Johannes Kepler Universität Linz (Austria), Lunds Universitet (Sweden), Universita Degli Studi di Padova (Italy), Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Montpellier (France), Toumaz Technology Ltd (UK), Sensor Technology and Devices Ltd (UK), Ondalys SARL (France), Romsoft SRL (Romania), Institut Klinicke a Experimentalni Mediciny (Czech Republic), RICAM, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Austria), Rambøll Danmark A/S (Denmark), Federation Internationale du Diabete Region Europe (Belgium).
Primary contact on behalf of the entire consortium:
Jens Ulrik Poulsen, Project Coordinator
Tel: (+45) 4443 9692
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Related article:
- FP7 eHealth Projects: DIAdvisor
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 26,000 employees in 80 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisks B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For more information, visit www.novonordisk.com.