Monitoring blood sugar and administering insulin throughout the day is no easy task, but for kids busy learning and playing, or too young to manage the process without a parent’s help, it’s even more difficult. Fortunately, the FDA has approved the first automated insulin system for young children.
Medtronic’s MiniMed 770G System is an upgrade from their Minimed 670G system which could only be used in children aged seven or older. The device monitors glucose levels under the skin every five minutes and has a pump, infusion patch, and catheter to deliver insulin as needed. It is also upgraded to be Bluetooth operated. This means that the device can maintain healthy blood sugar levels in young children without the continual assistance of parents.
Developers tested the device over a three month period on 46 children with type 1 diabetes. They found the device was successful for children on the move inside and outside the house. FDA approval means the device will soon be available for children across the country with diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2 but can develop in children of all ages. Monitoring and administering insulin in young children means parents must be with children at all times. FDA approval of an automated system for young children gives parents more peace of mind, as they send children to school, daycare, or playdates.
It also means fewer interruptions during playtime, naptime, and feedings, so these young children can have more freedom in their early development years. At the moment, this represents a great solution for managing a disease that we don’t yet know how to prevent.
