BEIRUT, Lebanon, November 13 /PRNewswire/ --
ATTN: Healthcare Editors
- MiniMed Paradigm(R) REAL-Time System Allows Patients to Make
Immediate Self-Management Decisions
Medtronic Mediterranean today announced the Middle East launch of the
Arabic language Paradigm(R) REAL-Time Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose
Monitoring System (Paradigm REAL-Time), a progressive therapy available for
patients who use insulin to treat diabetes. It is the first integrated
insulin therapy to display real-time continuous glucose readings and trend
graphs, allowing patients to make immediate self-management decisions to
improve their glucose control after confirming readings with a fingerstick
measurement. Taking immediate corrective or preventive action can help
patients maintain healthy glucose levels in order to delay or prevent
diabetes-related complications, including coma, blindness, kidney failure,
amputation, impotence and heart disease.
The Paradigm REAL-Time System integrates an external insulin pump with
continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The system's glucose sensor takes as
many as 288 daily glucose readings per day - providing nearly 100 times
more information than three daily fingerstick readings provide.
Current standards for assessing glucose control include A1C tests and
fingerstick measurements, yet both have limitations. An A1C test, which
measures glucose control over a three-month period, is important for
long-term management, but it is only an average and does not reveal
day-to-day glucose fluctuations that can damage the body. In turn,
fingerstick measurements only reveal a glucose value at a single moment in
time. As a result, patients are unable to detect approximately 60 percent
of low glucose (hypoglycemia) events and have difficulty assessing glucose
fluctuations while they sleep. In contrast, real-time CGM allows patients
to view glucose trends throughout the day and night, and understand how
fast, and in what direction, their glucose levels are heading. By
discovering how diet, exercise, medication and lifestyle affect their
glucose levels, patients can make more informed self-management decisions
and achieve a greater sense of confidence when managing their disease.
The system's continuous glucose sensor is a tiny electrode that is
inserted under the skin using the Sen-Serter(R), a small device that makes
sensor insertion easy for patients or their caregivers. The sensor measures
glucose in the interstitial fluid found between the body's cells, and is
typically discarded and replaced after three days of use. Glucose
measurements obtained by the sensor are relayed every five minutes from a
transmitter to the external insulin pump, which displays three-hour and
24-hour trend graphs, as well as arrows to indicate how quickly glucose is
moving up or down. In addition, an alarm alerts patients when glucose
levels become too high or too low.
"In order to manage diabetes properly, patients must continually
understand what affects their glucose patterns and take action to regain
control as quickly as possible," states Dr. Khalid Al-Rubeean, Director of
University Diabetes Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "By
viewing trends and real-time glucose information, patients can program
their pump to start or stop insulin delivery upon demand, or they can eat
carbohydrates to counteract for low blood sugar. Timely information coupled
with precise insulin delivery is why this integrated insulin therapy has
the potential to revolutionize diabetes management."
The Paradigm REAL-Time System incorporates "smart" Paradigm 522 or 722
insulin pumps, which have powerful built-in Bolus Wizard(R) calculators to
manage the complex diabetes math for patients. These pumps recommend
insulin dosages after considering the amount of insulin still "active" in
the body, helping patients avoid dangerous hypoglycemic episodes caused
when too much insulin is delivered. The system is calibrated twice a day
(every 12 hours) by entering a blood glucose measurement from a standard
meter into the insulin pump.
About Insulin Pump Therapy
An insulin pump is a small pager-size device that delivers insulin
around the clock, much like a healthy pancreas. It is the most advanced
method for precise and adjustable insulin delivery. Unlike injection
therapy, pump users can program their pump to deliver insulin at varying
rates to meet their changing insulin needs throughout the day and night. In
addition, insulin can be delivered on demand at the touch of a few buttons.
Many patients experience improved quality of life with pump therapy,
ridding themselves of multiple injections, strict meal schedules and rigid
sleep patterns that are associated with injection therapy.
Diabetes Statistics
Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions. According to the
International Diabetes Federation's latest figures, approximately 194
million adults have diabetes worldwide, and this number is expected to
reach 333 million by the year 2025. In the Middle East, more than 20
million people have been diagnosed with diabetes.
About Medtronic Diabetes
Medtronic Diabetes (http://www.medtronic-diabetes-me.com) is the world
leader in insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring. The
company's products include external insulin pumps, related disposable
products, and a continuous glucose monitoring system.
Medtronic Customer Service Middle East Hotline: +961-347-6311 - Email:
diabetes.me@medtronic.com
About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (http://www.medtronic.com), headquartered in
Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology, alleviating pain,
restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the
world.
Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
such as those described in Medtronic's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended January 27, 2006. Actual results may differ materially
from anticipated results.
Media Enquiries:
Rana Hamadeh
Medtronic Mediterranean
Telephone: +961-1-370-670 x297
Email: Rana.Hamadeh@medtronic.com
Neil Barrett
GCI Riyadh
Telephone: +966-(1)218-0290
Email: Neil.Barrett@gciksa.com
Medtronic Customer Service Middle East Hotline: +961-347-6311
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SOURCE Medtronic Mediterranean
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CONTACT:
Media Enquiries: Rana Hamadeh, Medtronic
Mediterranean, Telephone: +961-1-370-670 x297, Email:
Rana.Hamadeh@medtronic.com. Neil Barrett, GCI Riyadh, Telephone:
+966-(1)218-0290, Email: Neil.Barrett@gciksa.com. Medtronic
Customer Service Middle East Hotline: +961-347-6311
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