FDA Approval For Medtronic

Hi all - Just a quick post about some news that was announced this morning from Medtronic. I was excited to read the announcement because it shows that companies are continuing to innovate in a effort to ease the burden of diabetes management.  I currently do not use any Medtronic devices or any insulin pumps, but am actively invested in a CGM competitor, Dexcom and use the Dexcom G4.

Medtronic announced today that it had obtained FDA approval for a device that will monitor patients' glucose levels and automatically shut off insulin delivery when glucose levels reach a certain point.  I see this as a benefit if you are wearing an insulin pump and are unaware of your low blood sugar, be that you are sleeping or distracted for whatever reason, the device is smart enough to know to stop delivering insulin to avoid dangerously low blood sugars.  This is a great step forward because it means that the devices are becoming "smarter" and are able to react without user acknowledgement.  For me, one of the most costly effects of diabetes is the constant mental drain of "active management".  Diabetes is a full time job, even when you are sleeping.   

I never thought it would probably happen in my life time, but the artificial pancreas is looking more and more promising as devices like these get approval.