Launch of first infusion set to double wear time in type 1 diabetes

MedTech & Diagnostics News: Traditionally, insulin infusion sets used by adults with type 1 diabetes are replaced every 2 to 3 days to prevent complications and diabetic ketoacidosis due to set failure. Medtronic is set to launch the first and only extended insulin infusion set in Australia, which can be worn for up to 7 days.

The new extended infusion set, developed in collaboration with ConvaTec, will be available through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) starting July 1, 2024.

The introduction of this extended infusion set comes at a time when, despite increasing diabetes incidence rates, advancements in health technology have significantly improved glycaemic outcomes and health-related quality of life for patients.

Medtronic’s single-arm, non-randomised trial assessed the safety and performance of the new medical device in 259 individuals aged 18 to 80. Participants first used traditional 2- or 3-day infusion sets with the MiniMed 670G system for two weeks, followed by twelve consecutive wears of the Medtronic Extended infusion set.

The trial results showed that the extended infusion set had a survival rate of 77.8% for the 7-day wear period. Importantly, glycaemic control remained stable, and participants reported significantly greater satisfaction with the new set compared to the standard one (P < 0.001).

One of the major benefits highlighted by Medtronic is the potential for substantial cost savings. These savings stem from reduced insulin wastage during set changes, a 12-fold decrease in adverse effects related to device failure, and a significant reduction in plastic waste.

Standard infusion sets and reservoirs, which last 2 to 3 days, generate considerable medical waste; each patient uses between 120 to 180 sets and cartridges annually. In contrast, users of the extended infusion set will change their sets approximately 75 fewer times per year, reducing medical waste by about 40% to 60%.

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