New technologies and therapeutic approaches for the management of pediatric diabetes

Evolving trends in technology and therapeutic strategies create a very exciting time for the management of diabetes. Technology, like the internet, helps us to keep up with this fast-paced, changing world of diabetes. New therapies most often begin with adult clinical trials; once safety and efficacy are demonstrated, practice recommendations follow for the pediatric population. The Diabetes Research Working Group has defined potentially important new directions and technologies for diabetes research. The group has recommended the creation of regional centers of technologic excellence, if contemporary diabetes research is to succeed. An overview of recent advances in diabetes technology follows covering five main areas: monitoring, telemedicine, insulin analogues, insulin delivery devices, and islet cell transplantation.