Come and Join Us! International Oral Health CONGRESS

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Introducing a revolutionary product called Kiss & Tell. Kiss & Tell is a glucose testing kit which is non-invasive as it does not involve any finger pricks during testing. Instead, it uses the saliva to assess the glucose level of the individual. The test kit is also very convenient and quick which makes it easy to use for people of all ages. According to DiabetesontheNet, an article talking about the fear of injections in people with type 2 diabetes was discussed in 2017 and concluded that there were many diabetics that were afraid of injections. According to Rubin et al in 2009, about 10% to 26% of diabetics were afraid of needle injections. Needle phobia is a common obstacle among diabetics which could hinder the monitoring of their condition. While some may choose to avoid doing the finger pricks all together and even going as far as missing doctor appointments, others may find the frequency of doing the finger pricks tedious and disruptive to their daily activities. 

Other than the cost of medications, budget has to be set aside for medical supplies like blood test strips and alcohol swabs. Depending on the severity of one’s diabetes, more often than not, doctors would recommend the patient to do multiple tests in a day. Some examples of when a diabetic may have to do their blood test include before meals, 2 hours after meals and before bedtime. With such a high frequency, these costs can add up to be quite a sum of money. However with Kiss & Tell, patients are only required to buy a box that comes with either 7 or 50 test kits. All items needed for testing are provided in the test kit packet and no additional cost is needed.

In the test kit, there will be a user manual for individuals to read, the test cassette and a desiccant pouch to absorb any moisture in the packaging. There is also an application that can be downloaded on a mobile device for android users to record results to refer to and share to medical professionals or loved ones. On the test cassette, there is a rounded opening with a ‘e’ on one end which will be placed under the tongue to absorb saliva needed for the test. On the middle portion of the test cassette, there will be a yellow line indicator prior to testing. prior to testing.

Since Kiss & Tell has a compact packaging, this makes it very portable and travel-convenient as it does not take up too much space and is lightweight. This product is not only for diabetics but also those who are at high risk due to genetics or their lifestyle choices. As previously mentioned, the results obtained from the test cassette is in colour grades which means that the exact blood sugar level is unknown.

This product is not a replacement for the traditional finger prick test and it should instead be used in adjunct. Therefore, if the test results from Kiss & Tell indicated a high blood sugar level, this could warrant a traditional finger prick test to confirm the results. For those without diabetes, it could be a sign to visit a medical professional to get tested and have a diagnosis instead.

Diabetes is a lifelong medical condition that cannot be cured. Once the diagnosis has been made, the only counteraction for diabetes is maintenance. This entails regular medical checkups at the doctor’s, frequent finger pricks to test for blood sugar levels and daily consumption of medication. Individuals with diabetes should work closely with medical professionals and discuss the necessary steps that can be taken to manage the condition. Depending on the type of diabetes an individual has and how severe the condition is, the frequency of finger pricks can differ to strictly monitor blood sugar levels. Additionally, diet consultations may also be given to educate and inform patients about how their dietary choices may affect their condition and certain foods to avoid or limit the intake. They may also recommend picking up a physical activity as exercising provides a myriad of benefits - most importantly, regulating blood sugar levels. Medical professionals recommend exercising 150 minutes each week, which is about 25 minutes per day. 

Diabetes is a systemic disease that should not be undermined because poor control and lack of maintenance of this disease can lead to numerous detrimental issues. Other than poorer and slower wound healing, diabetes can also affect one’s teeth and gums. According to a review focusing on the bidirectional relationship of diabetes and gum disease done by Păunică et al in 2023, it stated that diabetes can increase the risk of getting severe gum disease by up to 3 times. Severe gum disease starts off from just slight swelling and bleeding of the gums and when not taken care of early, can progress to affecting the bone level of the jaw. When this happens, teeth can start to become more shaky and loose which will begin to affect the quality of life of the individual as daily tasks such as eating can begin to be a challenge. This means that regular dental checkups should be adjunct to medical checkups, especially so in an individual with diabetes.  

Other than gum health, diabetes is more commonly associated with leg amputations in the most severe cases. As mentioned in the previous articles, diabetes can lead to various other health complications like diabetic neuropathy if poorly managed. This condition happens due to the high sugar levels which causes significant damage to the smaller blood vessels that supply the nerves in the feet. Due to this issue, individuals with poorly controlled diabetes will have poorer blood circulation and experience loss of feeling in affected areas. This means that diabetics will be unable to experience pain in the event of an injury. When these small injuries are left unattended and untreated, it can become infected and begin to fester. Over time, the dead tissues can spread to the surrounding areas, eventually leading to amputation of the limb. 

In the long run, diabetes can be quite costly to manage. Regular medical checkups and medication costs can sound expensive but compared to the consequences of poorly controlled diabetes, it is worth spending the money to manage the condition. Losing a limb can not only be expensive financially but is also mentally taxing for the amputee and reduce the general quality of life for the individual. 

With these consequences, diabetes can impact not just the individual but also the loved ones around them. Changes can be difficult to implement and the commitment and willpower required to prevent a relapse of unhealthy habits is even more challenging. Support from those around the individual like family and friends could be a source of motivation. HealthHub has a multitude of resources regarding diabetes and even one how people can give their support to diabetics. Other than helping diabetics through their physical therapy and rehabilitation, loved ones can also show their support by cooking or choosing #healthier food options or joining in their exercise sessions. What’s most important is giving the utmost support and being part of their journey even if it is just providing a listening ear for them. Even with these suggestions, it is crucial to remember not to overstep their boundaries.

With all the above-mentioned information, it is important for everyone to go for regular medical checkups to monitor their health. Monitoring blood sugar levels should not be exclusive to just diabetics but should also be done for individuals who are at higher risk of diabetes or for those who have not gotten tested in a long period of time.  

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), diabetes is a chronic disease wherein the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin, or when an individual is unable to effectively use the insulin produced in one’s own body. Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood glucose levels by facilitating the absorption of glucose into cells.

Diabetes is characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose. There is also a stage called pre-diabetes before developing the disease. Pre-diabetes is a condition wherein blood sugar levels are slightly elevated but are not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Without an early diagnosis and intervention, pre-diabetes can progress into Type 2 diabetes. 

Diabetes can be categorised into Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, an auto-immune disease, happens when the pancreas does not produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes happens when the body builds a resistance to insulin and this can be attributed to an unhealthy lifestyle,  unbalanced diet and various other risk factors. Symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, blurry vision, extreme fatigue and impaired wound healing.   

Diabetes, when uncontrolled, can lead to further health complications and increase the risk of being afflicted with various other medical conditions like cardiovascular diseases, kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy) and nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy). In some cases, foot ulcers may form and if untreated without timely and proper medical care, could lead to the amputation of the leg. 

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2021, 537 million adults between the ages of 20 to 79 years old are afflicted with diabetes. By 2030, the number is expected to rise to 643 million adults. Global expenditure for diabetes care is estimated to have cost around 966 billion US dollars in 2021, a 316% increase over the past 15 years. Referring to the IDF in 2021, China ranks first with 140.9 million people diagnosed with diabetes, followed by India with 74.2 million people. 

Locally, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH) on 22nd August 2017, more than 400,000 Singaporeans are living with diabetes and 1-in-3 Singaporeans have a lifetime risk of getting diabetes. Numbers of diabetics are projected to rise even further to 1 million by the year 2050 if current trends continue. Additionally, according to the MOH on 14 November 2017, it was estimated that around 430,000 Singaporeans between the ages 18 and 69 years old were diagnosed with pre-diabetes. In 2016, Singapore started a national movement called “War on Diabetes”. According to The Straits Time, on November 2020, Diabetes Singapore and SportsSG signed an agreement to enable patients to get personalized coaching. There is also a workshop organised by #ActiveSg to educate diabetics on how to manage their medical condition with exercise.