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The Inception of Glytec

Like many great innovations, Glytec was born from the combination of two very different realms of expertise.

Robby Booth was a software developer in 2005 when he was introduced to Dr. Bruce Bode, a diabetologist renowned for his pioneering work in glucose sensing and insulin delivery. Bode’s early work made advancements through the “paper-protocol” that he published, and generously shared with the world for free, making it widely used by hospitals and current software competitors. These efforts continue to shape the landscape of diabetes care, extending far beyond his family’s 100-year legacy.

But in terms of clinical sophistication and outcomes, the “paper protocol” was a small step.  Recognizing the enormity of the opportunity before them, Booth and Bode created Glytec to take a giant leap forward. Their collaboration, enriched by years of dedicated research and immersive study in Dr. Bode’s diabetes clinic, led to the development of the first FDA-cleared software and algorithms for glucose management in 2006. This seminal innovation, since improved and validated by over 100 patents and over 100 publications, offers a more sophisticated, safe, and effective solution tailored for the needs of modern healthcare.

This groundbreaking achievement has not only impacted millions of lives and saved billions in healthcare costs but also revolutionized a critical care area affecting 40% of hospital patients and the top three medication related events occurring in hospitals nationwide, significantly enhancing the outcomes produced by nurses and healthcare providers.

Glytec continues to serve as leading advocates for patient safety and healthcare modernization, most recently supporting the CMS proposed rule reform and enhanced diabetes management which states that Glycemic (Hyper and Hypo) measures are mandatory beginning in 2026.  Our goal is simple: that every hospital has the tools to achieve diabetes excellence in their hospitals that has been validated by FDA. While there is still work to be done, we are proud to be at the forefront of advancing glucose and diabetes care beyond the outdated protocols of the past, and we invite you to be part of this exciting mission to transform diabetes technology and care.

Glytec’s Innovations in Diabetes and Insulin Management

Consumer Product Manufacturing

  • 1989: American Diabetes Association introduces the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes.
  • 1978: City of Hope develops the first synthetic human insulin.
  • 1976: First insulin infusion pumps (Mill Hill Infuser) invented.
  • 1970: Ames Reflectance Meter, the first glucose meter, is introduced.
  • 1964: Ames develops the first blood glucose test strip, Dextrostix.
  • 1955: First oral diabetes medication (sulfonylureas) introduced.
  • 1949: Becton Dickinson produces standardized insulin syringes.

Early Developments

  • 1923: Eli Lilly and Nordisk begin commercial insulin production.
  • 1922: First successful human insulin injection on Leonard Thompson.
  • 1921: Banting and Best extract insulin from a dog’s pancreas, lowering diabetic dogs’ blood sugar.
  • 1910: Sharpey-Shafer identifies insulin as missing from diabetic pancreas.

References

  1. Mazur A. Why were “starvation diets” promoted for diabetes in the pre-insulin period?. Nutr J. 2011;10:23. Published 2011 Mar 11. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-10-23
  2. Quianzon CC, Cheikh I. History of insulin. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2012;2(2):10.3402/jchimp.v2i2.18701. Published 2012 Jul 16. doi:10.3402/jchimp.v2i2.18701
  3. Quianzon CC, Cheikh IE. History of current non-insulin medications for diabetes mellitus. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2012;2(3):10.3402/jchimp.v2i3.19081. Published 2012 Oct 15. doi:10.3402/jchimp.v2i3.19081
  4. Hirsch IB. Introduction: History of Glucose Monitoring. 2018 Aug. In: Role of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Diabetes Treatment. Arlington (VA): American Diabetes Association; 2018 Aug. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538968/doi: 10.2337/db20181-1
  5. Clarke SF, Foster JR. A history of blood glucose meters and their role in self-monitoring of diabetes mellitus. Br J Biomed Sci. 2012;69(2):83-93.
  6. ‘Mill Hill Infuser’, the first portable insulin infusion pump, London, England, 1976: Science Museum Group Collection https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co523026/mill-hill-infuser-the-first-portable-insulin-infusion-pump-london-england-1976-insulin-infusion-pump
  7. Goeddel DV, Kleid DG, Bolivar F, et al. Expression in Escherichia coli of chemically synthesized genes for human insulin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1979;76(1):106–110. doi:10.1073/pnas.76.1.106
  8. 40-year Anniversary of Landmark Insulin Study: City of Hope. Michael Easterling – https://www.cityofhope.org/breakthroughs/landmark-human-insulin-study-marks-40-year-anniversary
  9. Standards of Medical Care for Patients With Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care May 1989, 12 (5) 365-368; DOI: 10.2337/diacare.12.5.365
  10. Zawadzki JK. Clinical Review, NovoLog (insulin aspart), Novo Nordisk, Inc. FDA.gov. https://www.fda.gov/media/71387/download. Published March 12, 2008.
  11. Glytec, LLC Glucommander System 510(k) Premarket Notification. FDA.gov. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf11/K113853.pdf. Published April 30, 2012.
  12. Browning, L.A. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2004; 61:1611-4
  13. Aloi J. Curr Diab Rep (2019) 19:120
  14. Rhinehart A, Mabrey M, Garrett V, Are Hospitals Doing Enough in Caring for Patients with Diabetes, Results of a Nationwide Survey: Current State of Inpatient Diabetes Care & Glycemic Management. Journal of the Endocrine Society, Volume 4 Issue Supplement_1, April-May 2020
  15. Diabetes Care 2020 Jan; 43(Supplement 1): S193-S202
  16. Umpierrez et al, Diabetes Care 30:2181–2186, 2007
  17. Spector WD, Limcangco R, Furukawa MF, Encinosa WE. The marginal costs of adverse drug events associated with exposures to anticoagulants and hypoglycemic agents during hospitalization. Med Care. 2017 Sep;55(9):856-863
  18. https://glytecsystems.com/evidence/
  19. Ullal J. Diabetes Technology Meeting Nov 2017.
  20. Newsom R. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 2018, Vol. 12(1) 53–59
  21. Newsom R, Patty C, Camarena E, et al. Safely Converting From Sliding Scale to Basal Bolus Insulin Across an Entire Medical Center via Implementation of the eGlycemic Management System. ADA Conference 2017
  22. Rabinovich M, Grahl J, Durr E, et al. Risk of Hypoglycemia During Insulin Infusion Directed by Paper Protocol Versus Electronic Glycemic Management System in Critically Ill Patients at a Large Academic Medical Center. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2018;12(1):47–52. doi:10.1177/1932296817747617
  23. Mumpower A, Hou S, Parsons T, et al. Relationship Between Glycemic Control Using eGMS and Readmission Rates in Cardiovascular Patients Hospitalized with AMI, CHF or Undergoing CABG During the Implementation of a System Wide Glycemic Initiative. Annual Diabetes Technology Meeting Nov 2016
  24. Cardona S. Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications 31 (2017) 742–747

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