New insulin pump

Is the new insulin pump Paradigm Veo worth the money?

There are many types of insulin pumps and generally, they work well. The only problem with the currently available insulin pumps is that they are not able to simultaneously sense blood sugars and vary the insulin release accordingly. People who use insulin pumps have to prick themselves in order to check the blood glucose levels 4-8 times a day. Now, a British company as designed an insulin pump that mimics the human pancreas. The pump - called the Paradigm Veo - automatically stops the flow of insulin to the body if blood sugar levels fall too low.

This is fantastic news. The major problem with insulin pumps is that many people develop too low sugar levels. Now this new pump is designed to help prevent hypoglycemic attacks - commonly known as "hypos" - which can leave diabetics in a coma and can kill.

Studies in England reveals that Paradigm Veo alerts the patient if their glucose levels drop too low, and stops them getting more insulin if they do not respond to the alert.

The pump has all the latest technology and will have a great impact on diabetics and the quality of life. The pump is designed to give the diabetic more flexibility and reduces anxiety. Further, studies show that the pump can maintain normal levels of glucose without too much hassle

Paradigm Veo is made by Medtronic and is only available in the UK for diabetic who already are using the older insulin pumps. The great advantage of this latest machine is that it comes with a dynamic continuous blood sugar monitoring capability.

In the UK the pump currently sells for $5,000 but the price is expected to drop slightly in the near future. The Paradigm Veo is only suitable for type 1 diabetics and will be of great benefit for children.

Until a cure for type 1 diabetes is obtained, the paradigm Veo will make a major difference in the quality of lives of type 1 diabetics. Achieving normal blood glucose levels, avoiding diabetic compilations and not having to prick the fingers and check blood sugars will hopefully be a thing of the past for a few diabetic patients.

Final word- all consumers should note that all mechanical devices do not last forever and many do breakdown. I do not recommend anyone buying this pump until it has been thoroughly tested and used by thousands of patients. All the reports about this pump are made by the manufacturer and doctors who are paid by the company.  At $5,000 a pop, this is an expensive device with no guarantee that it will work for long time. So despite the reports, be cautious-Remember the adage- “newer is not always better.”