new technology coming soon!!

[sam1nat2]

I talked to my friend today who is a rep for a major pump company (I don't want to be too specific in case he said too much)
Here is what they learned at the sales meeting a few weeks ago----

6 day sensor coming soon
sensor with 1/2 hour calibration time

sensor that is integrated into the set, delivers insulin and a sensor in one---sounds like this is about 18 months out

other than that, the new technology seems to be enhancing what is already available. They are getting a remote screen so you can see your child's bg readings from the sensor, kind of like a baby monitor.

Another cool thing is the use of blue tooth technology in the not too far future. At the meeting, the speaker was talking and wearing a cgms himself, the VP's cell rings and there is a text msg--- speaker's bg is 100 and falling. I can just imagine ds playing out front and me getting a phone call he is dropping!! No word on how far out this technology is, but knowing the FDA, it will be some time.

Also working on a pump/sensor that will adjust insulin accordingly & automatically. I know that they are currently doing studies on this at BDC among other sites worldwide. That just sounds scary to me, but probably just as scary as the first person doing a pump.

[Mama Belle]

Wow! This all sounds so wonderful! Can't wait 'til it is available!

[Adinsmom]

Pinch me am I dreaming? I like everything I am reading. Thank you.

[Lindy]

that sounds beyond amazing! yes, a cure would be fabulous, but for now keep the technology coming!!! :cwds:

[Mik's Mom]

wow!- sounds amazing- lets hope it all gets approved quickly and until a cure can be found.... may technology continue to provided us with better ways to keep our kids safe and healthy

~ Missy

[badshoe]

Cool

The problem with 18 month out tech is it seems to stay at 6 to 18 months for years. (Can you spell FDA?)

The navigator has been just around the corner for a few laps around the track, the cure is just on the horizon, etc. It is enough to drive a man to drinking, which on a friday isn't a long trip.

Still these sound like soem cool tools and they will come sometime.

[piratelight]

Cool stuff! Just hope that the timeline is somewhat accurate.

[sam1nat2]

I know, never can trust what the FDA says in terms of how long. This company, it seems things were approved only 2 months behind schedule of where they had said vs over a year (and counting) for Navigator. I'm not going to wait till the new technology comes out, I'll still persue the regular cgms, but hopefully we can upgrade!

[MLH]

I heard the same thing from a reliable source. I am so excited, short of a cure, I'll take this!:D

[sheila]

Sounds promising.

[jeep_bluetj]

I saw some raw data from the closed loop trials (Todays technology + some software) -- It was awesome. Meals wern't all that good, but fasting was indistingusable from non-d. They were just trying a "I ate something" button (partial closed loop) - it looked very good too. I'd sign my kid up in a heartbeat.

FDA approvals for 'additions' should be much faster than the original approvals. Look at Dex's 7 day sensor.

[badshoe]

The FDA is doing a presentation on CGM approval porcess on Sunday at the ADA Scientific thing. I would love to be there and rough'm up a bit as the come out and tell'm I know Tony Soprano.

[MelissaC]

With all of the new and wonderful technology "just around the corner" does it make you hopeful for a cure?

I try to stay hopeful but with D being a 42 billion dollar industry for pharm companies i just dont know.... I am amazed though everyday by how much technology changes... until then I will take what I can get :cwds:

[sam1nat2]

Badshoe, I'm with you girl!! I'm not afraid of those insurance companies, or the FDA for that matter. I'll come with and bring the tire iron :D

In all seriousness, FDA is playing a good game of CYA. I once sold a drug which was just dangerous, never should have been approved, yet it was just pushed through too fast with the me too products. People died as a result of the drug (as well as other factors). I think after that drug and a few others that followed with deaths after this one, they are more than cautious in approving something.

I heard a horror story of a pump that had been approved, but the company only did the minimal tests, the entire cartridge unloaded the entire vial of insulin. The one story I heard the woman did survive, but the company is no longer in business.

I can see how they should be cautious in approving things that can do harm, but really, how can a CGMS harm someone if people are taught to double check with the meter??? Its not like approving a closed loop pump where the kinks need to be worked out and we could potential have problems.

Ok, off my soapbox and back to work:D:D

[EmmasMom]

I was just told that the "parent monitor" for the cgms will likely be available within the next 2 months. :D It will send the cgms data to a small flat screen monitor that you can keep at your bedside, (or wherever you want it). It will have the graph, current glucose reading and LOUD alarms.
I haven't actually seen it yet, (and if you call MM they will say they have no idea what you're talking about...:rolleyes:) but my source has been very reliable with info and time lines so far.


The cell phone attachment isn't too far behind, but will require a blackberry or similar phone. The cgms screen will actually appear on the phone and you will be alerted when BG hits selected high/low levels.

I can't wait! This is an absolute dream come true for D parents!

[payam7777777]

the "parent monitor" for the cgms will likely be available within the next 2 monthsWOW! That's great!

[sammysmom]

That would be AWESOME!!

shannon

[Mama Belle]

Ya know, I really wish that these CGMS companies (and I don't just mean Minimed, here) would be working more on trying to get insurance to understand the benefits of CGMS technology. Honestly, they can put out as much new stuff as they want and as long as insurance isn't routinely covering it, most of us won't be able to get it. Maybe they are working on this through diabetes clinics or something, but I can't help but have my excitement stymied by the fact that for a lot of us this technology isn't affordable/attainable.

My daughter doesn't have hypo unawareness or repetitive night time hypos, she is in good control and for the most part isn't in dire need of this technology, but it would benefit her (as it would anyone with type 1, I believe). I love the new advances, I just wish there was more accessibility for people who are devoted to caring for themselves (you'd think insurance companies would want to motivate people to take better care of themselves, not penalize them for being in tight control!).

[WestinsMom]

My opinion is that when codes become available, so will more insurance coverage! Anyone have any idea when that will be? I thought I read something a while back.

[EmmasMom]

Ya know, I really wish that these CGMS companies (and I don't just mean Minimed, here) would be working more on trying to get insurance to understand the benefits of CGMS technology. Honestly, they can put out as much new stuff as they want and as long as insurance isn't routinely covering it, most of us won't be able to get it. Maybe they are working on this through diabetes clinics or something, but I can't help but have my excitement stymied by the fact that for a lot of us this technology isn't affordable/attainable.

My daughter doesn't have hypo unawareness or repetitive night time hypos, she is in good control and for the most part isn't in dire need of this technology, but it would benefit her (as it would anyone with type 1, I believe). I love the new advances, I just wish there was more accessibility for people who are devoted to caring for themselves (you'd think insurance companies would want to motivate people to take better care of themselves, not penalize them for being in tight control!).

It is very frustrating, but I think the companies are doing everything they can to get them covered. I'm sure they will all make tons more money when insurance is covering the cost and many more people are able to use them.
I don't know about Dexcom, but MM has really worked hard to get our sensor orders covered upfront so I don't have to wait for reimbursement. Once you get an agreement of any kind from your insurance provider, (ours was on a single case negotiation basis) they will run with it and do the work to get future orders covered for you. I think they are very eager to get insurance companies involved. The billing codes will change everything.

My husband would love to have a cgms for himself, but we just can't commit to the long term cost of another unit right now. He has good control and few lows, so it isn't AS important for him as it is for Emma, but it would still change his life. Even for a well controlled adult there is always room for improvement and better quality of life, now and 30 years down the road. I agree that it's ridiculous that good control means you don't get the technology, but insurance companies are pretty easy to figure out... it's all about $$$$$. If you're not costing them too much and you're at relatively low risk of costing them a lot in the near future... well that's good enough! :rolleyes:

I guess I can't be too hard on them because we're basically doing the same thing. When the cgms came out we were willing to do anything, pay anything to get it for Emma because things were so bad. With my DH, well... it's really expensive and he's doing OK without it.

On a side note, I'm sure that none of the new $$$ gadgets that go along with the cgms will ever be covered by insurance. Bummer.

[1luckymom]

I can't wait, and unfortunately I will pay if it makes things easier for my daughter.:(

[bonhamx4]

All this new technology sounds great, anything that can make life with D more easier to manage for my son I am all for. I just wish that with all the money they are spending on technology to DEAL with diabetes I wish they would CURE diabetes. (sorry, I am just venting)
Rich

[bluemom]

When the cost of diabetes is over $132 BILLION a year, I doubt that a cure is their main concern. It's all for new and improved technology instead.

[Tena]

right on! They make so much $$ off of us already. Why not more? The problem though with us is that just the routine meds and supplies cost so much WITH insurance that there is no way to do any thing if the ins doesn't cover. Not only do we have to deal with the daily frustrations of D but the financial burden as well. Will it ever end?????????

[sam1nat2]

I highly doubt that financial reasons are anyone's hesitation for a cure. I know many drs working on finding a cure for many different diseases. Is it going to cost them their job if they find a cure? Absolutely NOT!!! Do you think minimed is standing in the way of researchers by spending 350 million on research and development this year alone?

Many people at the cutting edge of technology for diabetes supplies are diabetics themselves, don't you think they want a cure as much as we do? Those people know way more than us the limitations of these devices and would love to see a cure.

Many people do not understand that when a product comes to market, 20 have been ixnayed before that. Millions of dollars down the drain when it fails to perform as hoped.

I want a cure as much as anyone, but until then I'm just thankful that we are on the horizon for new technology to keep the kids healthy until a cure is found.

[jeep_bluetj]

What sam1nat2 said.

If there WAS better tech that worked, we'd have it. Because SOMEBODY would want to sell it to us (CGMS for example)

If there was a cure, we'd have it. Look at how much press even little developments get.

Sure, company XYZ makes billions off of test strips or insulin or whatever. But company ABC can walk in and start selling non-invasive glucometers. ABC wins, XYZ loses. Its the way it goes. I'll love the day when test strips go the way of buggywhips (and it's approaching, it surely is)

Most often, the simplest explanation is the true one. There is no conspiracy. We really did go to the moon. There is no 100mpg carburator. Herbs dont cure D. Abbot labs doesn't send out hit squads against researchers that are close to a cure.

[Mama Belle]

Yeah I have to agree with Jeff and sam1nat2. Someone else said it better in a different thread, but whoever comes up with the cure for D is going to be a kajillionaire. There is most certainly a financial incentive to find a cure.

[Jeff]

A couple points.

1. The FDA will be present at CWD's Friends for Life conference in Orlando in July. If you're coming to the conference, you will have ample opportunity to meet and talk with their representatives.

2. I would be extremely skeptical of any continuous sensor that claimed to function well after an initial calibration just 30 minutes after insertion. A lot is happening in the body at the point of the probe -- this is after all an injury to the body (though a very minor one). All CGM systems seem to perform better after many hours, after which the initial inflamation and response to the insertion by the body has "settled down." (Interestingly, some sensors seem to do better days after the insertion.)

3. No one -- and I mean no one -- is holding back a cure to earn more money for a company. People who advance this argument are simply and completely wrong. Every major company involved in diabetes has many, many employees who have type 1 diabetes, often in very senior positions. They are serious about improving the lives of people with type 1, and many companies are investing in cure-related research. This is not something they can publicize until there is evidence, but I am aware of several efforts.

4. Finding a cure for type 1 diabetes has proven to be much harder than anyone imagined it ever could be. Countless physicians and researchers around the world have and are devoting their lives to this pursuit, and one day one or more of these incredible teams will succeed. When? I would not begin to hazard a guess.

[bluemom]

I would like to know if JDRF is financially supporting research in encapsulated piglet islet cells? Also, why is JDRF so gung ho on trying to create an artificial pancreas? I do not see how this could ever, EVER work. But then again, I am probably naive.

[Twinklet]

When the cost of diabetes is over $132 BILLION a year, I doubt that a cure is their main concern. It's all for new and improved technology instead.

I used to think this way, until someone pointed out to me the vast majority of people with diabetes have Type 2, which is a very different disease. People with Type 2 use strips, meters, insulins and insulin pumps. Our Endo's office has a whole team dedicated to Type 2's on pumps. So while a cure could perhaps mean a loss for some companies, it wouldn't be nearly as bad as one would think.