6
NEWS
Improving US access to Eversense
Ascensia Diabetes Care has launched a patient assistance
programme in the US to provide broader access to its
Eversense CGM system. Under the programme eligible
patients starting or continuing with the Eversense CGM
System will need to pay the first $100 of their out-ofpocket
costs. Ascensia will then cover up to $300 of the
remaining balance for each 90-day sensor. Any additional
costs will be the system user's responsibility. There is
no news yet as to this programme becoming available in
the UK.
Mary Puncochar, Head of Ascensia's Region US,
commented: "We hear from people living with diabetes
and their healthcare providers how transformative the
Eversense system can be in facilitating their diabetes
management. People using the system appreciate
how Eversense provides discretion with a removable
transmitter, peace of mind through the on-body alerts,
and the freedom that a 90-day sensor provides."
The Eversense CGM System consists of an implanted
fluorescence-based sensor, a smart transmitter worn over
the sensor, and a mobile app for displaying glucose values,
trends and alerts. The transmitter can also be removed,
recharged and re-attached to the skin without discarding
the sensor. The sensor is inserted subcutaneously in the
upper arm by a health care provider.
For more on Eversense, CLICK HERE.
Diabetes UK Cymru has awarded the John Macleod
medal to a man living with Type 1 diabetes for 70
years. Reverend Dr John Dann, 88, from Cardiff,
was diagnosed when he was 17 just before going to
university when he fell into a diabetic coma.
Dr Dann said: "I was weak, I was tired, I was
thin, I didn't know what was wrong with me until I
collapsed. My parents were told I may not survive.
But I pulled through. Diabetes management was
completely different then. The needles were
terrible, a lot thicker, and there were no insulin
pens available. It was very hard."
He was advised not to move far from home,
so he didn't take a place at Oxford University and
opted for Cardiff University. After graduating
with a chemistry degree, he became a teacher
in England, and then at his old school, Cathays
High in Cardiff. "I never stopped learning and now
have five degrees including law, philosophy and
education", he added.
Dr Dann uses a FreeStyle Libre and four insulin
injections a day. Asked about what his secret for a
long life with diabetes is, he said: "My advice is, be
careful, treat it with respect, treat it seriously, but
not too seriously. That's the way I have always lived.
You have to be sensible, don't ignore it, but don't let
it dominate you." He also mentioned how important
the Diabetes UK Cardiff Volunteer group, which he
chaired, had been "an opportunity to meet people,
discuss and help each other."
The John Macleod medal was established in
memory of the biochemist and doctor, who was
awarded the Nobel Prize in 1923 for the discovery
of insulin, jointly with Frederick Banting.
LIVINGLIVING
be delivered with its dime-sized patch.
Based on technology originally developed
at the University of Queensland, Vaxxas'
HD-MAP includes a 9-by-9 mm array
of thousands of very short projections
around 250 microns in length. Invisible to
the naked eye and coated with vaccine,
the projections can quickly deliver vaccine
to immune cells.
Vaxxas also claims that the patches
can deliver vaccine more efficiently - a
positive when people around the world are
clamouring for a vaccine against COVID19. The
company points to a recent
clinical study in which their micropatch
delivering a sixth of an influenza vaccine
dose produced an immune response
comparable to a full dose by intramuscular
injection. A two-thirds dose by HD-MAP
generated significantly faster and higher
overall antibody responses.
Because a vaccine is dried onto the
patch, the vaccines are stable outside
of cold-chain (they do not have to be
refridgerated), a potential answer to the
question of how to keep a traditional
COVID-19 vaccine cold in developing
countries and even developed countries.
Vaccines delivered through HD-MAP in
the clinical study stayed stable at 40oC
(104o F) for 12 months.
EDIT COMMENT: It's a different use
for patch, in the diabetes sector at this
stage, sensors are used to sense glucose,
not deliver drugs, but it's not beyond the
realms of reason that a similar micropatch
could be used for such a purpose in the
future to deliver diabetes medications.
Life Sport Diabetes
Mel Stephenson-Grey's home workout
circuit consists of six different exercises.
She explains, "With each exercise we'll
do consecutively for 30 seconds and then
rest for 30 seconds. If someone is new to
fitness or this type of activity, they might
choose to take a longer rest between
each exercise, for say a minute or two.
Once all of the exercises are completed,
we then take a six-minute rest (which
again is adaptable) and once recovered,
we repeat the circuit all over again."
Stephenson-Grey took part in the
London 2012 Olympics Games torch
relay and still trains (prior to lockdown) at
the track and in the gym. The exercises
she does include standing squats, pressups, the
plank, lunges, the superman
pose (when the opposite arm and leg are
stretched out) and sit ups.
She says, "This type of fitness session
is inspired by the type of session I've often
done with my training group over the
years, particularly at the start of the winter
or summer training season, as it helps
build strength and fitness as a foundation
to move onto other things. It works the
arms, legs and core areas throughout
the session, which can be helpful when
training a lot, because no one area is
necessarily over-worked or strained."
The home workout videos have been
accepted by many in the community.
She adds, "I'm sharing what training
sessions work for me. Please remember
that you know your own fitness, health
and diabetes best. Seek medical advice
if you are concerned about undertaking
physical activity."
Home workouts with Mel Stephenson-Grey of Life Sport Diabetes.
www. lifesportdiabetes.co.uk
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Alarm fatigue and
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ISSUE 119
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LUSCIOUS LYCHEES
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DIY SYSTEMS
The ultimate in self-care?
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Roche's new
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