Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said today the U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued positive guidance recommending the MiniMed Paradigm Veo insulin pump and integrated glucose sensor for managing type 1 diabetes who experience ‘disabling hypoglycemia.’
Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic said NICE reviewed 2 sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy systems, and since their assessment recognized Medtronic’s successor system, the MiniMed 640G.
“Avoiding episodes of severe or disabling hypoglycemia can be one of the biggest challenges associated with managing Type 1 diabetes. Preventing hypoglycemic attacks, which put the lives of patients at risk and lead to costly A&E admissions and hospitalization, is a priority area for the NHS. The Medtronic system recommended by NICE incorporates sensor technology, continuously monitoring sugar and shutting-off insulin when needed, to reduce the risk of a hypo. Insulin pump therapy systems combined with continuous glucose sensing and automated suspension of insulin delivery can be a lifesaver for those who have lost the ability to recognize when they are experiencing a hypoglycemic episode, and are also very reassuring for parents of children with Type 1 diabetes who fear night-time hypoglycemia. This guidance is extremely positive; acknowledging the latest technology and confirming the vital role of sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy with automated insulin suspend in the effective treatment of Type 1 diabetes today,” Peter Hammond of Harrogate District Hospital said in a press release.
Medtronic’s MiniMed Paradigm Veo and 640G systems offer low glucose suspension modes which incorporate CGM systems to alert users when glucose levels far too low or rise too high and can suspend insulin delivery automatically, the company said.
“This guidance is a great step forward for ensuring that people with Type 1 diabetes have easier access to the latest technology, which will help those that meet the criteria manage their condition better. CGM continuously monitors the glucose and alerts the user when the glucose level goes out of the safe range; and low glucose suspend helps prevent the glucose level from dropping dangerously low, which can result in collapse, coma or death. The availability of such advanced technology means those living with Type 1 diabetes may experience less difficulty and risk in their day-to-day lives as a result,” UK patient advocacy group INPUT chief exec Lesley Jordan said in a prepared statement.
The new guidance from NICE supports the use of the Medtronic devices for managing glucose levels in Type 1 diabetes patients if they have episodes of disabling hypoglycemia despite optimal management with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and the company collects, analyzes and publishes data on the system and its low-glucose suspension function.
