Widnes mum pioneers diabetic technology (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Innovative technology helps diabetic mum

12:30pm Tuesday 29th January 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan

A WIDNES mum only discovered she had gestational diabetes when she was 30 weeks pregnant.

But, thanks to innovative technology, she was able to monitor her condition from home.

Helen Clarry, aged 31, and her six-month-old daughter, Moll, have now been given the all-clear.

She said she was anxious when she was diagnosed.

Helen, a biomedical scientist, of Foxley Heath, said: “It was a worrying time because I didn’t have it in my first pregnancy.

“I wasn’t producing enough insulin.”

She was shown how to use the ‘easySHARE’ system at home and said it was a very simple device.

She said “I took my blood sugar levels five times a day and uploaded the readings once a week to the diabetic team.

“I was still working so it meant I didn’t have to go for any more appointments.

“I was able to control the diabetes through diet. I still have watch what I eat as this leaves me more at risk of type 2 diabetes in the future.

“We’ve had our blood sugar levels checked and everything is fine now.”

Helen and her husband, Chris, aged 38, a supervisor at Jaguar, have a three-year-old son, Kai.

She said: “Moll is absolutely fine. She is a very happy baby, always smiling and laughing.”

The service was introduced by Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust, as part of a pilot study.

Dr Stephen Ward, medical director at Bridgewater, said: “Diabetes in pregnancy can lead to a risk of problems for the baby.

“This system generates a report of the blood glucose readings of each patient and emails it to their clinican which saves the patient from unnecessary trips to a clinic.”