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Insulin dependent diabetics can now access the world's first integrated insulin therapy pump to help manage the condition without having to go overseas, writes ANASUYA KESAVAN.
Diabetes is characterised by high levels of sugar or glucose in the blood due to insufficient production of the hormone insulin, needed to regulate the blood sugar, by the pancreas.
Powered by the MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring System, the technology, available to purchase in Bahrain for the first time, combines a 'smart' insulin pump with the benefits of real time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).
The system includes a continuous glucose sensor, a radio frequency transmitter, and the MiniMed Paradigm insulin pump which is a small pager-size device delivering insulin round-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 programme their pump to deliver insulin at varying rates to meet their changing insulin needs through the day. Additionally insulin can also be administered on demand.
A continuous glucose sensor is inserted under the skin using the Senserter, a small device which 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.
These real time glucose readings are also available with an Arabic menu and enable the user to see how their diet, exercise and lifestyle impacts glucose levels. To protect the user from low and high glucose levels, alerts and alarms have also been designed into the mechanism.
The MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring System provides doctors with valuable data for more in-depth insights into patient progress and the information required to better detect and manage glucose levels and to reduce HbA1c levels - the amount of glucose adhering to the red blood cells - and related diabetes complications.
This type of therapy is especially helpful for patients with nocturnal and postprandial hypoglycemia, dawn phenomenon, gastro paresis, gestational diabetes, paediatric patients as young as a year old and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.
Bahrain Specialist Hospital has launched special packages for patients wanting to switch over to the insulin pump.
Dr Fouad Reda of Universal Medical Equipments is the official supplier of the product in the kingdom. He can be contacted on 36700229.
