USA — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Medtronic’s new insulin pump with meal detection technology, the MiniMed 780G system, for patients with type 1 diabetes aged seven and older.
This breakthrough technology is expected to significantly improve the management of this chronic condition, alleviating the burden associated with daily insulin management.
The Guardian 4 sensor is equipped in the device, eliminating the need for finger pricks while in SmartGuard mode, allowing patients to continuously monitor their glucose levels and adjust their insulin delivery without invasive testing.
Type 1 diabetes is a complex condition affecting millions of individuals worldwide, with approximately 1.6 million people in the US alone having it, and around 40,000 new cases diagnosed annually.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of this condition has increased by 45% in the US between 2001 and 2019.
Effective management of insulin levels is crucial, as failure to do so can lead to severe health complications, such as heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, and kidney failure.
The MiniMed 780G insulin pump has the potential to improve patients’ quality of life by providing greater control over insulin management and simplifying daily management of the condition.
The system automatically adjusts and corrects glucose levels every five minutes, reducing the risk of hypoglycemia, a dangerous condition that can occur when glucose levels drop too low.
Clinical data has shown that the device can deliver a time in the range of 78.8% without increasing hypoglycemia while using the lower target of 100 mg/dL and an active insulin time set to 2 hours.
The device also demonstrated a time in the range of 75% for blood sugar between 70 and 180 mg/dL, with an overall time below the range of only 1.8%.
The MiniMed 780G system includes an infusion set that allows it to be worn for up to seven days longer than normal.
The device features the lowest glucose target setting in any automated insulin pump on the market, according to Medtronic, with the capability to set the target as low as 100 mg/dL, providing patients with a greater level of control over their insulin management.
The meal detection technology available on the new pump is expected to be especially useful for patients who struggle with mealtimes, which can often be a challenge for those living with type 1 diabetes.
As noted by Que Dallara, executive vice president and president of Medtronic’s diabetes division, “Mealtimes prove to be one of the biggest challenges for people living with type 1 diabetes, and now for the first time, the MiniMed 780G system addresses this unmet need with automatic, real-time insulin corrections.”
The approval of Medtronic’s new insulin pump with meal detection technology by the FDA is a significant milestone in the management of type 1 diabetes.
With the potential to improve patients’ quality of life by providing greater control over their insulin management and simplifying the daily management of the condition, this innovative technology has the potential to benefit millions of individuals living with type 1 diabetes.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.
