In future, people with diabetes will have fewer hospital check-ups.
A new digital system at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen makes it possible to detect early signs of deterioration in the course of diabetes – thereby reducing the need for routine follow-up appointments. In future, many people with diabetes will therefore, as a general rule, only be called in for a check-up every other year.
The system is called Detektor and has been developed to continuously monitor health data from the centre's approximately 12,000 users.
If values change in a way that requires attention, clinicians are automatically alerted.
This is explained by Jonatan Ising Bagger, Consultant and Clinical Lead in the development of Detektor at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen.
“If something flags up in the data, we are notified immediately, so we can call the person in straight away and initiate the appropriate treatment," he says.
“In return, there is no longer a need for everyone to attend routine check-ups several times a year."
One comprehensive digital overview
Detektor compiles data from, among other sources, glucose sensors as well as blood and urine tests into a single digital overview, which clinicians can monitor in real time.
When data exceed predefined clinical threshold values, an alert is triggered, prompting assessment and, if necessary, contact.
“This means we can use our time and resources more precisely – while also creating greater reassurance for users, as they know we respond quickly if problems arise," he says.
Everything takes place within a closed system, ensuring that users can be confident their data cannot be hacked or leaked.
A promising start
Detektor has been running as a pilot project since October 2024, and so far the results have been positive.
“Only three out of approximately 12,000 users have opted not to participate, which shows there is strong support," says Jonatan Ising Bagger.
“At the same time, we can see that there has been no decline in average long-term blood glucose levels – which was a concern in the initial phase," he says, emphasising that this is not solely due to Detektor, but also because diabetes treatment overall is continuously improving.
Detektor is expected to be fully implemented during 2026.