diabetes 2

For people with insulin-dependent diabetes
trying to control their blood glucose
or blood sugar
can be a stressful juggling act. Managing the disease often requires several daily insulin injections
taking up to 10 blood samples a day
coordinating the use of multiple medical devices and being mindful of how diet
exercise and medication can affect blood-sugar levels.

Medtronic's Paradigm REAL-Time System incorporates a glucose sensor
a transmitter
a "smart" insulin pump and a glucose meter to provide patients with better control
flexibility and health.

Chris Jarvis
a member of the 2004 Canadian Olympic Rowing Team and a marathon runner
knows firsthand about the challenges associated with diabetes. He has type 1 diabetes
which means his body doesn't produce insulin on its own. Some days
during races
Jarvis used to take up to 15 fingerstick measurements to check his blood sugar. For many years
he used two separate devices to control his diabetes
one to monitor his glucose and another to administer insulin into his body.

Most recently
however
Jarvis has been using a new federally approved device-the only one of its kind in the world-that has given him much more control over his diabetes.

Developed by Minneapolis-based medical technology company Medtronic
Inc.
the MiniMed Paradigmฎ REAL-Time Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring System integrates an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring system to deliver insulin to the body day and night while at the same time continuously checking glucose levels
and sounding an alarm (or vibrating) if levels get dangerously high or low. This new device provides Jarvis with the confidence he needs to continue leading a healthy life.

"It gives you a real sense of comfort knowing exactly what's happening inside of your body
rather than trying to guess with only a couple of fingersticks
Jarvis says.
It's just a quick touch of a button and you see where your blood sugar is."

This new therapy option helps patients
like Jarvis
gain tighter control over their disease and understand how their diet
exercise
medication or lifestyle may affect their blood sugar. Armed with this knowledge
patients can take immediate corrective or preventive action to maintain healthy glucose levels.

Dr. Irl Hirsch
medical director
University of Washington Diabetes Care Center
Seattle
says that many patients with insulin-dependent diabetes still give themselves multiple daily injections of insulin and rely solely on blood draws-four to 10 per day-from fingersticks to measure their blood-sugar levels. The new system changes all this because it constantly delivers insulin to the body and continuously-almost 300 times a day-provides users information on what their glucose level is and whether it's heading up or down.

"If you have insulin-dependent diabetes
you need to make sure you're getting the right amount of insulin
and you need to keep a close eye on your glucose levels
Hirsch says.
The insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor is a major breakthrough because it's the only device in the world that helps you do both."

Studies have shown that multiple daily insulin injections aren't as effective as insulin pumps in controlling diabetes. Fingersticks alone miss more than 60 percent of low-glucose events
and that's a real danger for people with diabetes. If blood sugar gets too high or low
patients can lapse into a coma and die within just a few hours. Over time
not maintaining normal blood-sugar levels can lead to blindness
stroke
amputations
heart disease and kidney disease.

"With the MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time System
I control my diabetes; it doesn't control me
Jarvis says.