Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said today that it made its 1st foray into integrated care for diabetics, acquiring a Dutch diabetes clinic and research center called Diabeter for an undisclosed amount.
Diabeter provides care for more than 1,500 children and young adults with Type I diabetes, using technologies developed at the clinic to help patients manage their disease. Medtronic said internal data show that the Diabeter approach allows patients to maintain their blood glucose levels at near-normal levels, an important factor in reducing the long-term complications (and costs) of the disease.
"The Diabeter acquisition is a milestone for Medtronic and for the diabetes group," diabetes group president Hooman Hakami said in prepared remarks. "This acquisition marks Medtronic’s 1st entry into a diabetes integrated care model approach and signifies that Medtronic Diabetes is more than pumps and sensors – we are a holistic diabetes management company focused on making a real difference in outcomes and cost."
Diabeter will operate under Medtronic’s diabetes services & solutions umbrella, but retain its "professional autonomy" in making clinical decisions and choosing medical device brands, Medtronic said.
Dr. Henk Veeze, senior international medical director of the center, said the care model developed at Diabeter can be extended around the world.
"Diabeter has been pioneering this type of integrated care in the Netherlands, and we believe this approach can be applied more broadly to serve more patients, in more places around the world," Veeze said. "We have developed a unique system with improved clinical outcomes, combining outstanding clinical care with devices and information technology."
"Diabeter and Medtronic share the same goal of transforming diabetes care for greater freedom and better health. By joining forces, Diabeter and Medtronic can further advance the development of technology and integrated care models that improve clinical and economical outcomes for people with diabetes and for the healthcare system," added diabetes services & solutions general manager Annette Brüls. "We aim to accelerate access to this new model of diabetes care in the Netherlands and beyond."
