Let's Talk About Women's Health: Diabetes

Welcome to our blog series, "Let's Talk About Women's Health." This series is dedicated to sharing powerful patient impact stories, highlighting the real-life experiences of women navigating various health challenges. Our goal is to raise awareness, foster meaningful dialogue, and shine a light on the key challenges and opportunities in MedTech for women's health.

In this first installment, Meghann Peters, Human Resources Manager at RQM+, shares her personal journey of type 1 diabetes and her appreciation for the MedTech industry and its transformative impact on healthcare.

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and insights in our ongoing series. Together, we can make women's health happen.

Let's Talk About Women's Health: Diabetes

Two years ago, my world shifted when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It came after I’d been experiencing several troubling symptoms that, though alarming, didn’t exactly take me by surprise. You see, my father had lived with type 1 diabetes since he was five years old, and his journey had taught me a lot about the realities of the disease.

When my father was diagnosed back in the mid-60s, the tools available for managing type 1 diabetes were basic at best. He was given an insulin syringe and a manual glucose monitor, and the general advice was to cut out all carbs. It was a much more difficult, less informed time for diabetics, and without the technology and support we have today, he struggled to manage his condition. Sadly, my father passed away at the age of 41 due to complications from mismanaged diabetes. His story is one that reminds me of how much has changed—and how much more we still have to learn.

Fast forward to 2023, and I find myself in the same boat. However, when I left the hospital, my experience was very different. Instead of just a syringe and a glucose monitor, I left with an automated insulin delivery system and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). These tools have completely changed the game, making the management of my diabetes much easier and much more precise. With the advancements in technology, what once felt like an overwhelming challenge is now more manageable.

The progression in diabetes care is a testament to how far we've come in just a few decades. What my father experienced compared to my own journey shows the growth and advancement of medical technology. Though our experiences are different, the underlying message is the same: living with type 1 diabetes is tough, but with the right tools and the right mindset, it's a challenge we can overcome.

Through my personal journey with type 1 diabetes, I’ve gained a profound appreciation for the MedTech industry and its transformative impact on healthcare. Having witnessed my father’s struggles with limited resources and basic tools in the 60s through the early 2000s, and then experiencing advancements firsthand in 2023, I have a unique perspective on how far we've come. The automated insulin delivery system and continuous glucose monitor (CGM) I now rely on have made managing my diabetes significantly easier and more precise, something that would have been unimaginable in the past.

These technological advancements not only improve my quality of life but also highlight the importance of innovation and research in the MedTech field. The ability to manage my condition with such sophisticated tools reflects the tireless work of engineers, scientists, and medical professionals dedicated to improving patient outcomes. What once was a challenging and sometimes dangerous condition is now more manageable, and this progress has given me hope for the future. My experience has shown me just how vital the MedTech industry is in shaping the lives of people living with chronic conditions, and I am deeply grateful for the innovations that have made my journey more manageable and empowered.

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