A presidential promise. A statement to advance us into a more lucrative future of healthcare. A hope that technology in healthcare can further help fulfill patient’s needs.

"We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost….. All this we can do. And all this we will do."

This quote came from President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address on January 20, 2009. It is a bold statement on his desire to make improvements in todays healthcare system and expand on the successes of technology for everyone.

We have seen diabetes technology take leaps and bounds since the first person was given an injection of insulin in 1922. Peeing into a cup and firing up the stove to test blood sugar has been replaced by miniscule samples of blood and circuit boards. The elusive closed loop system still weighs heavy on the minds of scientists and on those touched by diabetes. How great will it be to have a sophisticated machine that samples blood glucose values and trends then automatically adjusts needed amounts of insulin?

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has helped to overstep technological hurdles quite a bit. We are seeing people using this technology, after its FDA approval in recent years, and benefiting tremendously. But even with the coolest advances, new diabetes tech has room for improvement.

This new administration has a full plate to contend with. Let’s hope that while our country gets through the tough times, successful progress can be made for bettering the lives of people with health issues of all kinds.