https://www.eejournals.org Open Access
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licen se
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
original work is properly cited
Page | 10 EEJBS 62 P9.docx
Effect of Smart Wearable Glucose Monitors on
Hypoglycemia Incidence in Diabetic Adults with Malaria in
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ivan Mutebi
Department of Pharmacognosy Kampala International University Uganda
Email:
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus and malaria represent a critical dual burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the intersection
of non-communicable and infectious diseases intensifies clinical complexity. In diabetic adults, malaria-induced
metabolic stress exacerbated by fever, reduced appetite, and antimalarial treatments often precipitates episodes of
hypoglycemia, a life-threatening complication that remains under-monitored due to limited access to conventional
glucose testing methods. Smart wearable glucose monitors (SWGMs), particularly continuous glucose monitoring
systems, provide real-time, continuous glycemic data and hold promise for reducing hypoglycemia by enabling
proactive insulin adjustments and dietary interventions during acute febrile illness. This review evaluated the
effectiveness of SWGMs in mitigating hypoglycemic risk among diabetic adults co-infected with malaria in SSA. A
narrative review methodology was employed, synthesizing evidence from peer-reviewed literature, technological
reports, and implementation case studies. Findings revealed that SWGMs improve glycemic control and reduce
hypoglycemia incidence in various settings; however, data specific to malaria-diabetes comorbidity in SSA remain
limited. Challenges such as device cost, health infrastructure deficits, digital illiteracy, and sociocultural resistance
hinder widespread adoption. The review underscored the need for context-specific clinical trials, government-
subsidized procurement models, mobile health integration, and culturally sensitive educational strategies. With
strategic investment and policy support, SWGMs could become a transformative tool in improving outcomes for
this medically vulnerable population in SSA.
Keywords: Smart Wearable Glucose Monitors, Hypoglycemia, Diabetes Mellitus, Malaria Co-infection, Sub-
Saharan Africa.
INTRODUCTION
Diabetes mellitus, particularly type 2 diabetes (T2DM), has emerged as a major public health concern in sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA), a region historically burdened by communicable diseases such as malaria [1, 2]. The intersection of
these two conditions creates a complex clinical landscape, especially given their opposing metabolic implications.
Malaria, caused predominantly by Plasmodium falciparum in SSA, induces systemic inflammation, fever, and anorexia,
which can significantly alter glucose homeostasis [3, 4]. In diabetic individuals, this co-infection often precipitates
episodes of hypoglycemia, especially when treatment regimens are not adequately adjusted to reflect the fluctuating
metabolic demands imposed by acute febrile illness.
Smart wearable glucose monitors (SWGMs), such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, represent a
novel technological intervention that may help mitigate hypoglycemic risk by providing real-time glucose data, trend
alerts, and actionable insights to patients and healthcare providers [5]. These devices have shown promising
outcomes in high-resource settings but remain underutilized and understudied in SSA, where healthcare
infrastructure, economic constraints, and disease epidemiology differ significantly. The integration of SWGMs into
malaria-endemic regions could revolutionize diabetes management by enabling dynamic insulin adjustments during
periods of febrile illness, preventing complications related to hypoglycemia, and improving overall glycemic control
[6]. However, the adoption of such technology requires consideration of numerous contextual factors including
cost, accessibility, cultural acceptance, and the capacity of health systems to interpret and act on the data.
EURASIAN EXPERIMENT JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (EEJBS)
ISSN: 2992-4138 ©EEJBS Publications
Volume 6 Issue 2 2025