Quite possibly one of the coolest advances in injection therapy, the Medtronic i-port Advanced is now available in the United States.
With a quick look, the Medtronic i-port Advanced looks like an insulin pump site. This comes as no surprise because the system closely resembles the Mio – if you are familiar with Medtronic’s insulin pumps. As a nurse, a person with Type 1 diabetes and a parent of a child with Type 1 diabetes — I’m thinking sheesh it’s about time.
If you’ve ever had the sad job of poking needles into a small child you will quickly realize the value in such an item. One poke every three days versus a poke every time you eat plus a few others for long acting insulin is just over the top.
Here’s the Medtronic i-port Advanced pluses:
- This tool simply increases independence with Type 1 diabetes.
- It decreases the anxiety of getting injections by other people which eases the burden at school a bit.
- It may lessen fear of needles and denial of food because children know food equals shots.
Here’s the potential drawbacks:
- Possible site infections
- Possible skin reactions to the site or tape
- Possible site dislocation or kinking resulting in partial or no insulin delivery
- Increased cost of supplies (syringes are incredibly cheap)
- Poor rotation of the port site can cause skin issues due to over-saturation of one location with insulin. This can result in decreased absorption of insulin, skin lumps or fatty deposits (this can happen with injections and insulin pumps as well).
Who is the Medtronic i-port Advanced for?
- Anyone with diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2) using insulin injections
- This is compatible with insulin pens and syringes
I’m looking forward to using it for “insulin pump vacations” – when I need a break from being tethered to my pump. We’ll also be using it on our next beach vacation when our Medtronic insulin pump is of the question. I must say, even as an adult this product definitely has curb appeal.
Kudos to Medtronic for making our lives a bit easier with diabetes!
{Medtronic i-port picture credit: Diabetes Health}