

It will roll out in the next few weeks










Source: Singularity Hub

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By n0ebert on 9/30/2013 12:43:23 PM , Rating: 2
Maybe someone smarter can comment and explain how this would be different from using a pump to control the amount of insulin that the body is given.

My fiance has type 1 diabetes and uses one. It does monitor the blood sugar level and, since she's had it her entire life, can "feel" when her blood sugar level is too low or high.

How would this be worth it, with the failure rate, over current technology that helps control the disease?

By integr8d on 9/30/2013 1:01:31 PM , Rating: 2
You're thinking of Type II's which eat their way to diabetes. Type I's are born with it. They can totally have the belly in the pic.

By ClownPuncher on 9/30/2013 2:48:16 PM , Rating: 2
A buddy of mine that I grew up with has about 5% bodyfat as a type1. In fact, it's easier for him to stay thin.

By amanojaku on 9/30/2013 3:45:33 PM , Rating: 2
Weight loss is a common sign of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This is due to the low level of insulin, which removes excess glucose from the blood to be stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles, and triglycerides in the adipose tissue. If the body isn't storing adipose, you won't be fat. Glycogen also makes up body mass, as much as 10%.

Essentially, people with T1DM just piss out their sugar, and their resulting body mass goes down. They also experience fatigue, since there's less sugar in the muscles and liver (which supplies glucose to the rest of the body's organs).

They're at risk for cardiovascular disease, as well. The triglycerides that would have been stored in the adipose float around the blood stream, damaging vessels (atherosclerosis), the nerves they supply (diabetic neuropathy) and the heart (diabetic cardiomyopathy).

I'm sure your friend has heard all this and more from his doctor, and knows how dangerous it is. T1DM left untreated is fatal.

By ClownPuncher on 9/30/2013 5:24:06 PM , Rating: 2
He definitely knows. I can't say he is the best at taking care of it, but he definitely stays active and keeps his diet sane.

By csilo on 10/2/2013 2:59:57 PM , Rating: 2
Its easier to stay thin if you have Diabetic bulimia...which is where you intentionally run high BGs. Its MUCH harder to lose weight with type 1. If you are continuously having lows, you are going to feel the need to overeat each time. Also, when you have synthetic insulin on board, your going to tend to burn sugar instead of fat.

By Monkey's Uncle on 9/30/2013 7:12:54 PM , Rating: 2
Another misinformed soul.

Please do some research.

By ClownPuncher on 9/30/2013 7:16:44 PM , Rating: 2
Care to elaborate?

By Cheesew1z69 on 9/30/2013 7:40:30 PM , Rating: 2
By ClownPuncher on 10/1/2013 1:02:56 PM , Rating: 2
I know what diabetes is, both types. What does that have to do with type1 people typically being more skinny than type2 people?

By csilo on 10/2/2013 3:03:52 PM , Rating: 2
If you have type 2, it is more likely due to your environment and eating habits. You do not get type 1 from your environment or eating habits.....plain and simple

By Monkey's Uncle on 9/30/2013 9:03:53 PM , Rating: 2

The quoted poster's assumption that "type II's which eat their way to diabetes" is misinformed.

That generalized assumption is made based on pure ignorance. While being overweight is one possible cause of diabetes in those with a disposition for it, it is not the only cause by a long shot. For instance my neighbor has Type II diabetes. She weighs about 95 lbs soaking wet. She developed Gestational diabetes when she was pregnant with her kid. I have known her for about 20 years and in all that time she was never heavier than 115 lbs.

Type II diabetes is a degenerative disease. Period. Granted being overweight will cause insulin resistance and make diabetic symptoms appear sooner, however being overweight is not in itself the cause of Type II diabetes. Degeneration of pancreatic function is the cause of Type II diabetes.

If the quoted poster had done a little research, he would have figured this out and not made such an uninformed & ignorant comment.

By csilo on 10/2/2013 3:00:56 PM , Rating: 2
This isnt always the case. My friend is type 2 and she has always been sooo skinny and still is super petite.

By Monkey's Uncle on 9/30/2013 7:09:30 PM , Rating: 2
I know quite a few Type II diabetics that have nice flat bellies. The woman next door is full blown type II and weighs about 90 lbs.

Point is if you are assuming that being overweight is the only reason a person can get Type II diabetes, you are very sadly misinformed. While being overweight is the main cause of insulin resistance, Type II diabetes itself is a degenerative disease that often (but again, not always) kicks in when you are over 40 or so.

Please do some research before making comments out of ignorance.


By shabazkilla on 9/30/2013 1:00:39 PM , Rating: 2
Current CGMs (constant glucose monitors) don't measure blood glucose levels - they measure interstitial fluid glucose levels, which has not been nearly as accurate as blood measurements. As a result no insulin pump is setup to dose insulin based off readings from current CGMs.

I haven't read the details of the new Medtronics 530g system, but it appears the enlite sensor is still reading interstitial fluid glucose levels. They claim it's more accurate though, at least accurate enough to dose off of. I'll be pissed if you still have to calibrate the sensor with blood glucose readings every 8-12 hours. It's a pain in the ass.

By csilo on 10/2/2013 3:07:47 PM , Rating: 2
I saw this too. It will not give you an exact measurement of your BGs. My dexcom g5 isnt even that accurate, I doubt this medtronic pump will be either.

By Jeffk464 on 9/30/2013 1:24:47 PM , Rating: 1
Oh sure, she looks like a diabetic.

By amanojaku on 9/30/2013 1:59:10 PM , Rating: 2
Current pumps deliver insulin on a scheduled basis, with no regard for blood glucose levels. You have a meter and a pump that operate independently, forming an open loop. The wearer must enter the dosage amount based on meter readings. If someone's blood glucose is too low (e.g. skipped a meal), the pump won't know and will continue giving insulin.

This new device forms a closed loop, since it receives "real-time" monitoring data (every 5 minutes) via radio frequency sent from the meter (which is not built in). It doesn't change the dosage amount, but it WILL cut off insulin delivery if blood glucose is too low. It's a little bit smarter than your usual pump.

Your body does real-time monitoring of blood glucose (aka glycemia, or BGL) and releases insulin if BGL is too high. The pancreas also releases glucagon if BGL is too low. Future pumps, combined with sensors, would release both in varying amounts, as necessary. Not at the same time, of course, since insulin and glucagon are opposites.

Some users of pumps are aware of this problem, so they provide a lower dosage of insulin, leading to higher blood glucose levels than normal. To them, it's better than passing out, which is true if you operate a vehicle, or do anything potentially dangerous.

