Continuous Glucose Monitoring A Reality
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm REAL-time Insulin Pump with Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) in June of 2006. Medtronic is calling it, "a major step toward an artificial pancreas."
How it works
A sensor is inserted under the skin which measures glucose in the interstitial fluid found between the body's cells. This means that there is no blood involved. The sensor relays the glucose level to the pump which displays the number, and figures out the appropriate insulin amount for the reading, and then is able to administer the insulin through the port which is also inserted in the subcutaneous tissue.
This almost mimics the way a real pancreas would act, by continuously monitoring blood glucose and constantly adjusting the level of insulin needed to keep blood glucose in an acceptable range.
What this means
People who use the continuous monitoring device would be able to see how their blood sugar fluctuates during their day. They would be able to achieve the tightest control possible, which would help prevent long-term complications. It would give tremendous flexibilty to their lifestyle, because no matter when they eat or how much they exercise, they'll know at a glance what their current blood sugar level is. It could help prevent the dangerous highs and lows that sometimes happen with conventional monitoring methods.
Although the insulin pump portion of the system is covered by insurance, the continuous glucose monitoring components of the system are not yet covered.
According to Medtronic's Product Information webpage, "... because REAL-Time CGM is a brand new therapy, it is not yet covered by insurance companies. At this time the REAL-Time CGM components—the transmitter and glucose sensors, are an out-of-pocket expense. Medtronic Diabetes will continue to build the clinical evidence and work with insurance companies to obtain coverage for this exciting technology."
As of right now, the Real Time Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is available for Type 1 and Type 2 adults over the age of 18. Because it is so new, the CGM will have to prove itself with use and establish a track record of reliability and safety over time.
Comments
Being a high profile “hydroglycemia unawareness”..want to know how this new
pump will fit into my lifestyle..have to be alerted continuously on my extreme
highs and lows!
I read professional-level textbooks and journal articles and am therefore profoundly aware of the multitude of complications of diabetes over the long term, and of their often subtle and insidious nature. Continuous glucose monitoring, with or without the use of an insulin pump, is a major step forward for those of us who take seriously their diabetes and its long-term management. My hat is off to Medtronic.
What is the cost for the monitoring system ? Since the pump will be covered by my insurance I’d like to know my out of pocket cost.
I’ll try to answer all comments at once.
I think that the Real-time CGM would be a good tool for preventing wide swings from high to low, because you will always know what your blood sugar is, throughout the day.
If you click on the link in the article, it will bring you to Medtronic’s website. The price is there, near the bottom of the page. There are several options so it would be better for you to look at what they have to offer.
Thanks,
Deb M
Dear sir I am a doctor from Iraq and having a grand daughter two and a half years of age with diabetes makes me worried to the greatest extent about the dangerous outcomes she is facing . I was disappointed when reading the age group that will benefit from this great
help tool as it was mentioned that the age group is for above 18 years of age .
I hope this is not true.
yours A.Riadh of IRAQ
I have had the new Medtronic 522 for several months having purchased it in Canada. The information given here is incorrect as this unit will not automatically influence insulin dosage. The continuous glucose monitor and the pump are housed in the same body, but the CGM does not influence what the pump does. It is up to you to adjust the pump manually if a correction is needed. The ultimate plan is for the CGM to communicate with the pump in the future, but consumers won’t see that feature for at least a couple of years.