Medical supplies provider Edgepark has announced the inclusion of the Beta Bionics iLet Bionic Pancreas fully automated insulin delivery (AID) system in its diabetes management solution portfolio.
The iLet, according to an Edgepark press release, marks an important advancement as the first system of its kind to eliminate the need for carbohydrate counting while automating 100 percent of insulin doses. Beta Bionics’ new FDA-cleared device is for individuals 6 and older with Type 1 diabetes.
“It’s deeply critical that our customers have access to the latest innovations that remove complexities to care, especially when managing a disease as complicated as Type 1 diabetes,” Anthony Alvarez, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Edgepark, said in the announcement.
Edgepark – part of the $108 billion healthcare services company Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) – services more than 3 million customers in the home setting per year, with more than 40,000 products from 700-plus manufacturers.
The iLet works by automatically delivering basal, correction and meal doses based on real-time health data. Additionally, the system learns users’ personal trends to adjust insulin delivery accordingly, enhancing its effectiveness over time, according to Edgepark.
“Removing the need to carb count or input extensive background data creates a more proactive approach to a patient’s diabetes management plan,” Debra Brown, a clinical diabetes educator for Edgepark, said in the announcement.
Introduced in 2017, AID systems like the iLet gauge insulin requirements and tweak delivery based on glucose numbers provided by a connected continuous glucose monitor (CGM). The iLet is compatible with the Dexcom G6 and G7 CGMs, both also available through Edgepark.
“AID systems are not entirely hands-off,” Edgepark clarified in its announcement. iLet users must input their current weight and specify whether their meals had more, or less, carbs than usual.
Like all insulin delivery systems, users must also load the insulin pump with insulin, insert an infusion set and troubleshoot when challenges occur, according to Edgepark.
“Our patients now have more options for diabetes management that provide greater peace-of-mind and flexibility on a daily basis,” Alvarez added.
