Are There Specific Safety Features That You Will Need
While all pumps have basic safety features to prevent accidental over-delivery of insulin and optional nonspecific reminders , other safety features may be desirable for enhancing your pump experience and preventing potential problems. For example, alarms can be set to detect possible missed meal or snack boluses. And since it is very important to change the pumps infusion set on a consistent schedule, it can be very helpful to have a customizable site-change reminder.
Looking For An Insulin Pump
The patients doctor is the very best person to figure out if an insulin pump is needed. For patients that do require just smaller, irregular, or infrequent dosages of insulin, the pump is generally not a must.If the doctor recommends a pump, find out what type or brand name of pump they would recommend. You should also ask about what functions or features may be best for the patients requirements.The American Diabetes Association provides a resource guide, consisting of information on specific pumps, insulin choices, and infusion sets.American Diabetes Wholesale and The Diabetes Store offer a range of pumps at competitive rates.Those with insurance coverage will have to talk with an insurance agent prior to acquiring a pump. Ask about the particular pump and devices that will be covered.
Additional Expenses You Should Be Prepared For
Patients will also have to spend on the insulin provided through the gadget. The cost of insulin differs usually depending on the persons dose requirements and brand name. The nonprofit organization InsulinPumpers.org, reports that the typical client without insurance coverage spends about $785 dollars a year on insulin. Over half of the diabetics on the site report utilizing the prescription insulin medication Humalog. For those with insurance coverage, normal coinsurance, and copay rates vary from $5 to about half of the overall expense of the products.Professionals recommend that book an initial consultation with their doctor in regards to the pump set-up and use. The switch from injections to pump insulin delivery can be pretty complicated. Regular doctors fees and insurance coverage rates will apply and with insurance coverage, the costs can vary from $5 to $50.
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The Minimed 770g System
Everyone’s experience with diabetes is different. Our goal is to provide you with the level of support you want to help reach your therapy goals.
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A pilots life for Marc with the MiniMed 770G system Marcs story
Start on the MiniMed 770G system now and get access to our MiniMed 780G* insulin pump through a no-cost remote software upgrade.
*The MiniMed 780G pump and new CGM are under FDA review and not currently for sale in the U.S.
Will The Pump Hold Enough Insulin To Last You At Least Three Days
Some pumps hold as little as 176 units of insulin, while others hold as much as 315 units. Since most pump users change their infusion set every three days, it is important to have enough insulin in the reservoir to last that long. To estimate your three-day insulin requirements, take the total daily insulin you take now by injection , and multiply by three. Presently, the Medtronic pumps hold either 176 or 300 units , the Animas OneTouch Ping and OmniPod each hold 200 units , the Roche Accu-Chek Combo hold 315 units, and the Sooil Dana Diabecare IIS, Tandem t:slim, and Asante Snap hold 300 units, .
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Can You Use Your Preferred Infusion Set
Infusion sets are to pumps like tires are to cars in that they make that all-important final contact. There are many varieties and styles of infusion sets, and some people have more success with certain ones. While all pumps connect with a variety of angled or straight-in infusion sets, using either a stainless steel or a flexible Teflon cannula below the skin, only pumps that utilize a universal connection called a Luer lock will work with just about every type of infusion set on the market. The Roche, Animas, and Tandem pumps use a Luer lock connection. The Medtronic and Sooil pumps, however, use a proprietary connection. The OmniPod currently has only one type of infusion system: a flexible 8-millimeter Teflon tube inserted at an angle.
Can You Have Mri With Medtronic Pacemaker
Now Medtronic has announced that its Advisa DR MRI and Revo MRI SureScan pacemakers received FDA approval to be MRI compatible without any limitations on the positioning of the patient. The approval was based on the agencys review of both clinical data, as well as computer modeled simulations of chest scans.
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Bridging The Gap Program
To be eligible, patients must:
- Have private hospital cover
- Be in the interim 12-month waiting period for private health cover benefits
- Have been diagnosed with Insulin Dependent diabetes
- Meet the NDSS criteria for insulin pump consumables
- Be under supervision from healthcare professionals, including a diabetes educator and endocrinologist or paediatrician, for insulin pump therapy
To apply for a loan pump, patients simply complete the application form which requires signed acknowledgement from a physician and a diabetes educator prior to submission.
Cgm Insulin Pump Players Look To 2021 As Watershed Year For Diabetes Wearables Market
Insulet, Dexcom and Medtronic have product launches planned this year, looking to capitalize on the recent skyrocketing of virtual care due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The coronavirus pandemic has spurred an explosion in telehealth and digital health as patients stayed out of hospitals and doctors’ offices to slow the spread of the virus turned to virtual care.
As a result, the healthcare landscape has significantly changed over the last 10-11 months and companies are making moves to capitalize on the rise of tech-driven services and wearable devices.
Patients embraced devices like continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps in recent years before the pandemic, and companies in these markets like Dexcom and Insulet or Medtronic and Abbott Laboratories have remained successful despite the economic volatility throughout 2020.
Now, Wall Street and industry see 2021 as a watershed moment for diabetes technology. Along with plans to expand into new markets, nearly every major player in the CGM and insulin pump space have product launches this year, one of which J.P. Morgan said could be the year’s biggest for industry.
As the CGM and insulin pump markets gain momentum, companies like Dexcom and Insulet point to a large, under-penetrated patient population as the largest growth opportunity.
As both patients and providers rely more and more on virtual care, digitally-based diabetes management stands to gain further momentum.
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How Much Does An Insulin Pump Cost
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The cost of an insulin pump ranges from $4000-$10,000. The cost varies depending on the type and brand of pump. It also varies depending on where it is purchased from. There are three different types of insulin pumps with tube, tubeless and implanted. The average cost of an insulin pump with a tube is around $4000-$5000. The average tubeless pump costs around $6000-$7000. The average cost of an insulin pump that is implanted is around $10,000. On top of the original expense of the pump, patients will spend about $100 a month on insulin and other supplies for with tube and tubeless insulin pumps. Implanted insulin pumps cost more for monthly insulin supplies than with tube or tubeless insulin pumps. Implanted insulin pumps cost around $120 a month for insulin and supplies. Most insurance plans will cover at least some of the cost of an insulin pump the average insurance plan covers about 50% of the cost. However, most insurance plans will only allow patients to get the least expensive type, the with tube variety.
Can You Hear Or Feel The Alarms
This is something you have to try out for yourself. The pump will alert you if there is a problem, but if youre not aware of the alert, what good is it? All pumps, with the exception of the OmniPod, allow you to adjust the beep volume or switch to a vibrate mode.
Do you require a pump that is fully waterproof?All pumps are splash resistant. Perspiration and rainwater are not typically a problem, so this is only an issue if you plan to submerge or drench your pump. And the fact is, most pump users simply disconnect at the infusion set housing before bathing or going into the water. But if you do a lot of swimming or spend a lot of time boating, rafting, or canoeing, it is a good idea to have a fully waterproof pump.
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Interoperability And Homemade Diabetes Tech
The future of insulin pumping definitely appears to be connecting these devices to CGMs for improved blood glucose control. This of course has pushed to the forefront the issue of device interoperability and do-it-yourself technology.
Behind this evolution has been pressure from the patient community rallying behind a #WeAreNotWaiting mantra pushing to get innovative technology out more quickly and allow data and device integration.
Many of the folks creating DIY connected systems are using older, discontinued insulin pumps such as the Minimed Revel and Paradigm models. Despite an FDA warning and mainstream media concern that surfaced in 2019, thousands of people are now safely and successfully using these homemade systems.
Meanwhile, FDA has published new interoperability protocols to help the established medtech industry create products that are more modular and can work together safely and seamlessly. For insulin pumps like the Tandem t:slim X2, that means gaining a marking that new pump as interoperable technology.
This is important to keep in mind when shopping for new insulin pump technology.
Case 1successful Pump Therapy Implementation
SQ is a 19 year old female with type 1 diabetes since the age of 12. She was referred by her pediatrician to transition care to adult endocrinology. She was hospitalized upon diagnosis for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis . In the first few years, SQ struggled to adjust to her new diagnosis. Despite frequent changes in her multiple daily insulin injection regimens, she continued to have erratic glycemic control, with HbA1c ranging from 8.6% to 10.8%. Her menstrual cycles started at age 13 and the patient had normal growth for her age however, on her healthy child follow up visits, the patient frequently complained of chronic fatigue. Her school grades fell and her participation in extracurricular activities waned. While in high school, SQs parents enrolled her in a diabetes summer camp where she was taught how to count carbohydrates properly and learned the importance of good glycemic control along with her peers who had the same disease and challenges. SQ began checking her blood glucose prior to each meal and her blood sugars improved greatly with proper pre-meal bolusing. Concurrently, her energy level and grades improved, and she began participating in school activities again. Over the last year, her HbA1c has ranged from 7.4% to 7.8% and she has had no episodes of DKA. She is a counselor at the same diabetes camp that she attended. Now in college, she is interested in learning more about insulin pump therapy.
Questions:
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What Are The Ongoing Costs
Medtronic infusion sets and reservoirs are available from the NDSS through Diabetes Australia for $25-$30 per month, for patients who meet the criteria. Applications must also be signed and completed by you before being sent to Diabetes Australia. You should also advise patients of the appropriate infusion set and reservoir for the pump, so that they can order consumables through your state Diabetes Australia office.
How Much Is The Medtronic Insulin Pump
A Medtronic insulin pump currently costs $9,025. When a patient is diagnosed with diabetes, they should register with the Australian Governments National Diabetes Services Scheme , which is administered by Diabetes Australia . The NDSS provides subsidised insulin pump consumables, including reservoirs and infusion sets.
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What Should Be Included In The Sale Price
The majority of pump sets will consist of the pump gadget, flexible needles for insertion of the infusion line, infusion lines, and tape for fixing the infusion line. Infusion lines permit the insulin to go from the pump to the patients body and the flexible needles enable the line to stay fixed in place for about 72 hours.More pricey pumps can also have a clip-on belt or pouch for the pump gadget or computer software application that permits the gadget to interact with a computer.
Do You Desire A Pump That Links With A Blood Glucose Meter Or Continuous Glucose Sensor
This is kind of like playing the futures market. Clearly, the future of diabetes management and pump therapy involves a continuous glucose monitor feeding data about your glucose levels to a pump, which then determines how much insulin to deliver automatically. However, we are not at this point yet.
Currently, some pumps have the ability to take data directly from a blood glucose meter when performing bolus calculations . Others can display data from a continuous glucose monitor, but the data is not used to adjust insulin doses.
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How Long Does An Insulin Pump Battery Last
4) The average life span of a battery in your pump is one week. Know that using settings like vibrate mode, the back light, or the sensor will use more battery which can make this time frame vary. 5) Keep a spare battery handy, like in your meter case or a drawer at work, but avoid storing it in extreme temperatures.
Can You See The Screen Reasonably Well
Unless you have somebody who can help you perform all of your daily pump programming, it is important that you be able to read the pumps screen clearly. Check the screen contrast and the size of the characters, with and without the backlight, to make sure you can see them well enough to perform all necessary programming.
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Towards Fully Automated Insulin Delivery
The modest success of a bionic pancreas in type 1 diabetes was reported in a clinical study . The researchers tested a bihormonal bionic pancreas in both adults and children using a removable tiny sensor located in a thin needle inserted under the skin that automatically monitored real time glucose levels in tissue fluid. It also provided insulin and the hormone glucagon, via two automatic pumps, while the patients carried a cell phone-sized wireless monitor for five days . For comparison, the patients were also monitored for five days wearing their own regular pumps that delivered insulin. The bionic system significantly reduced average blood glucose levels and required 37% less intervention for hypoglycemia. Although it validated the proof-of-concept for this type of therapeutic approach, the system needs further sophistication and testing over a sustained period of time. Technological advances pertaining to the use of closed-loop systems in conjunction with insulin pump therapy for type 1 diabetes are evolving .
The bionic pancreas device system .
Selection Of Candidates For Pump Use
The common situations in which insulin pump therapy may be considered are summarized in . The ideal candidate for initiation of insulin pump therapy is a motivated patient who is knowledgeable in the important aspects of diabetes self-care and desires better glycemic control . The patient should be familiar with carbohydrate counting and CSII technology, and harbor realistic expectations about the amount of effort required and the benefits to be accrued from switching to an insulin pump. A pump is neither a cure for diabetes nor does it function autonomously without intervention and input. Patients should be clear about the fact that a pump is a highly specialized gadget it nevertheless requires programming and constant interaction from the wearer. Adherence to blood glucose self-monitoring and the ability and willingness to regularly communicate with the professional pump team is absolutely critical in predicting long-term success with the pump . The benefits afforded by integrated pump-sensor technology should also be weighed against its complexity and cost .
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The Personal Cgm Integrated With The Pump
As noted above, the Personal CGM is a patient-owned device that checks and displays glucose levels on a screen in real time and on a near-continuous basis. Although they can be used as independent gadgets, the EnLite Medtronic Continuous Glucose Sensor was developed specifically to integrate with an insulin pump , thus displaying glucose readings on the screen of the pump without the need for a separate receiving device . The resultant integrated assembly gave rise to the popularity of sensor-augmented pump therapy which was shown to be superior to traditional daily multi-dose insulin injection use in several high-profile clinical trials . It is equipped with alarms for high and low readings, as well as Up and Down trend arrows for rapidly changing values. More recently, the Animas Vibe pump has been configured to display glucose readings on its screen that it receives from the Dexcom G4 CGM system .
The Dexcom G4 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System displays readings and graph on the screen of the Animas Vibe Insulin Pump.
The Abbott FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System .
Medtronic Minimed 630g System
For an integrated CGM
This model from Medtronic comes with an optional CGM so a person can also monitor their blood sugar levels using the same device. It is also compatible with the Contour Next Link 2.4 blood glucose meter.
Medtronic claims that this system makes a person four times more likely to reach their target A1C level, which is their average blood glucose level over about 3 months.
Other stand out features include:
- alarms if a person goes below their preset glucose levels the device will stop issuing insulin if a person does not respond
- a bolus calculator, which automatically calculates doses and tells a person if they set them too close together
- predictive alerts
- compatible app for smartphones, which displays all readings and allows for notifications and alarms
- suitable for those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
Many insurance companies cover the Omnipod Dash. It is also available through pharmacies with a prescription.
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