Medtronic Launches a New and Improved Insulin Pump, the Revel

The FDA just approved Medtronic’s latest insulin pump, called the MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time Revel System – this is Medtronic’s first new pump platform to be approved in four years! This system, just like the previous model of the MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time, can interact with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to display glucose readings on the home screen of the pump. Additionally, the Revel has new CGM-specific features, such as predictive alerts, which tell people in advance that they are heading towards hypoglycemia (compared to standard alerts, which tell people after they have reached hypoglycemic levels) – this is similar to a feature pioneered by Abbott’s Navigator. As we learned in an interview with Medtronic Diabetes President Katie Szyman, in a study recently produced by Medtronic, the predictive alerts built into the Paradigm Revel system allowed patients to improve detection of hypoglycemia by 36% compared to standard low glucose alerts. The algorithms (the formulas that operate the sensor) are also said to be improved – we will watch to see what users say in the dQ&A surveys (if you are not taking our dQ&A surveys to tell companies how you like your diabetes therapies, please write survey[AT]diatribe.us) and will alert the company if users are experiencing improvements! In addition, “alert-based navigation” helps direct the user to a specific menu after an alert is received, a feature intended to assist the user in immediately responding to the alert. We like the sound of this and are eager to see how people like it in “real life.” The Revel can also set insulin delivery rates in smaller increments of 0.025 units per hour (until now, the Animas OneTouch Ping was the only pump that could set insulin delivery in 0.025 unit increments); this precise dosing should be very useful for children and insulin-sensitive adults. Notably, extremely insulin-resistant people with type 2 diabetes will also benefit from the Revel, given its new 1:1 insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio feature, which allows as much as 1 unit of mealtime insulin to be administered for every 1 gram of carbohydrate. As we understand from the company, type 2 patients represent 20% of all new pumpers and are a growing market – if you are type 2 on insulin, you may want to ask your healthcare provider if you could benefit from pumping. Finally, this system offers active insulin on board on the home screen and enables individuals to customize missed mealtime insulin reminders. For more information on the Revel insulin pump, visit the Revel page on Medtronic’s website. --ST