First Steps Towards an Artificial Pancreas
In 2009 Medtronic made the headlines with the launch of another breakthrough product in the world of Insulin Pump Therapy. The MiniMed Veo was labeled as the first step toward an artificial pancreas system, it was the first insulin pump to feature a Low Glucose Suspend (LGS) mechanism.
Let’s understand the Low Glucose Suspend Mechanism, and why it was a major development.
Low Glucose Suspend (LGS)
The LGS mechanism was designed to reduce the incidents of hypoglycemia for insulin pump users. The idea was to automatically stop insulin delivery when blood sugars fall below a certain threshold level. The MiniMed Veo comprised a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) to implement the LGS mechanism.If the CGM readings showed signs of hypoglycemia, the Veo Insulin Pump would sound alarms to alert the user. However, if the user missed these alert alarms, the pump would automatically suspend insulin delivery for a certain time. Earlier pumps lacked the functionality to automatically suspend insulin delivery as they were dependent on input by the user.
Better Diabetes Management
Hypoglycemia and its uncertainty is arguably the biggest concern for anyone living with diabetes. The MiniMed Veo allowed people with diabetes to avoid incidents of hypoglycemia and live without the constant worry of going too low.
It showed strong prospects of reducing the risks of long-term complications in people with diabetes. More importantly, the semi-closed loop system of the MiniMed Veo allowed people with diabetes to be more confident about their condition.