Medtronic launches continuous glucose monitoring system for diabetics
24 April 2007 Minneapolis, USA. Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) has launched
the Guardian REAL-Time System, a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system
for improved diabetes management.
The new CGM system is intended to help protect diabetes patients from
high and low glucose levels, and maintain tighter glucose control. Improved
glucose control has been shown to significantly reduce the likelihood of
certain long-term complications, including blindness, kidney failure,
amputation, impotence, and heart disease. The Guardian REAL-Time System
will include the MiniLink REAL-Time Transmitter, a rechargeable, waterproof
transmitter approximately one-third the size of previous Medtronic
transmitters. It also incorporates the Medtronic CareLink personal therapy
management software, which integrates data from the patient’s Guardian
REAL-Time System, logbook and blood glucose meter to identify patterns and
trends in glucose management. “The launch of the Guardian REAL-Time System
is the result of years of research aimed at improving diabetes management
and control,” said Chris O’Connell, president of the Diabetes business at
Medtronic. “This launch exemplifies Medtronic’s unwavering position as the
industry leader in advanced diabetes technology.” Features include
predictive and rate-of-change alarms and expanded trend graphs. In addition
to standard high and low glucose alerts, new early warning alerts —
predictive and rate of change — warn patients before their glucose reaches
preset thresholds. Comprehensive trend graphs show the effect of diet,
exercise, medication, and lifestyle on glucose values in three-, six-, 12-,
and 24-hour increments. The transmitter sends glucose readings every five
minutes to a monitor, which displays up to 288 real time readings a day —
about 100 times more information than conventional glucose monitoring. This
additional information provides better protection against frequent glycaemic
highs and lows, and helps patients better manage their diabetes. Data
gathered from the Guardian REAL-Time System can be viewed using the CareLink
Personal Therapy Management Software. This helps patients learn how insulin,
carbohydrates and exercise affect their diabetes. Detailed treatment reports
feature easy to use charts and graphs, and reveal patterns and problems
often overlooked by traditional meter software or paper logbooks. These
reports can then be shared with a physician and incorporated into electronic
medical records where available. To top
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