Preventive Systems for the Late Complications of Diabetes

Abstract

Aim of this work is to review and characterize methods and systems that are used to prevent onset and to slow down the progression of the late complications of diabetes. Two groups of methods and systems that might be used to prevent or to slow down the progression of the late complications of diabetes are characterized in this paper. Each of these two groups serves a different purpose. The first group is composed of the systems that facilitate a maintenance of strict metabolic control in diabetic patients, i.e. the systems which are used for monitoring and treatment of diabetes. The second group contains systems that are aimed at screening/monitoring or treatment of the risk factors or the early signs of the late complications. Obesity increases risk of diabetes and its complications. Thus, body mass monitoring and control systems are examples of the tools that belong to this group. Other examples include the diabetic retinopathy telescreening systems and the systems for monitoring of the diabetic foot syndrome.