Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center gives let patience pilot self-regulating insulin pump

IDAHO FALLS -- STAND UP: I’m Natalia Hepworth in Idaho Falls, at Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center where volunteers with diabetes are going to be testing a new product that should help them regulate their insulin more conveniently.

SOT: It’s the first of its kind to actually interact with the blood sugar and do some of the automation,” RMD study coordinator, Becky Sulik says.

VO: On Thursday Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center trained eight volunteers on the Medtronic MiniMed 670G, the first hybrid closed loop insulin pump. In type 1 diabetes, the patient's pancreas produces little or no insulin, which means the patient has to regularly monitor sugar levels

SOT: “This technology is what we call a hybrid closed loop insulin pump. It’s a pump combined with a sensor," Sulik says.

VO: Compared to a standard insulin pump for type 1 diabetes, this new technology automatically tests a person's blood glucose level. It's considered a hybrid because it still needs interaction from the wearer.

SOT: “The pump is designed to respond to the blood sugar. As the blood sugar is going up the pump can change the insulin delivery to match that, or if the sugar is going down the pump can reduce or shut off the basal delivery to help control blood sugars,” Sulik says.

VO: With a regular insulin pump patients would have to check their blood sugars frequently and make adjustments. This new device eliminates most of the tedious steps. Patients still have to do the finger prick test but less often.

SOT: “It just takes some of the burden off. It’s really intense to manage type 1 diabetes where you have to worry about your exercise and your eating," Sulik says.

VO: Idaho Falls local Brian Wood received early access to the device, and said he's looking forward to the added independence his pump will bring.

“A little bit more hands off. The pump is more self regulating rather than depending on me for everything,” Wood said. “I’m excited to not have to worry and focus so much on the diabetes part of my life and be able to focus on other aspects of my life."

VO: Rocky Mountain Diabetes is one of few sites in the country to offer this product. It received FDA approval last fall and will be available soon to most patients. The product is approved for patients 14 and older.

SOT: "Where we’re going with this eventually is we’ll have a pump that will do everything. I think that will happen,” Sulik says.

STAND UP TAG: If you are interested in knowing if you qualify for this product first consult your physician. In Idaho Falls I’m Natalia Hepworth EastIdahoNews.com