David Timms, pictured here in his earlier flying days, was the first person with insulin- dependent type 1 diabetes to get a recreational pilot’s license in Canada.supplied
David Timms of Guelph, Ontario, has had a front-row seat on the path of phenomenal advances over the last century when it comes to the technologies and tools available to help people living with diabetes live healthier lives.
Mr. Timms has been living with type 1 diabetes for 67 years, and was the first person with insulin- dependent type 1 diabetes to get a recreational pilot’s license in Canada.
In the early years after his diagnosis at age 14, he used urine testing to test his glucose levels – an imprecise measurement that showed what his blood sugars had been over the prior few hours. Preparing for his once-a-day insulin injections was complicated and time-consuming.
“We had to wrap the glass syringes in cloth and boil them to sterilize them, and use a flat stone to sharpen the long metal needles that you attached to the syringe,” says Mr. Timms. “It wasn’t a pleasant process to be involved in every day.”
Then came the more sensitive and accurate method of testing blood sugars. “First, you had a sizable amount of blood to collect, and when you put it on the testing strip, you waited one full minute before you got results,” he says. “It still wasn’t easy, but it was a step forward – giving me more accurate information about my actual blood glucose levels.”
Fast forward to 10 years ago, when Mr. Timms began using an insulin pump, which has since been upgraded to the Medtronic MiniMed 670G self-adjusting insulin pump system, integrated with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
“The system sends constant blood sugar measurements to my insulin pump – which has brought tremendous stability to how I manage my diabetes. My A1C levels have been excellent ever since I’ve been on the system,” he says. “It’s also been a joy to use, and I am in awe of how much it has improved my life.”
Decades of innovation to optimize use of insulin
“Medtronic has been continually innovating to build on the incredible discovery of insulin,” says Laura Cameron, Medtronic’s senior director for diabetes in Canada. “For decades, we have been creating increasingly effective ways of infusing insulin to give patients better health outcomes and improved quality of life.”
Medtronic is the world’s largest medical technology company, and its historic contributions include bringing to market Canada’s first insulin pump, first CGM and sensor, and first self-adjusting system, says Ms. Cameron.
Laura Cameron“We’ve got a system that has 50 years of R&D behind it, and we continue to advance the technology to bring more ‘firsts’ to Canadians. Medtronic has been continually innovating to build on the incredible discovery of insulin. For decades, we have been creating increasingly effective ways of infusing insulin to give patients better health outcomes and improved quality of life.
Senior Director for Diabetes in Canada, Medtronic
“We’ve got a system that has 50 years of R&D behind it, and we continue to advance the technology to bring more ‘firsts’ to Canadians. We are always working to make our systems smaller and easier to use, and to add features that produce better outcomes for patients.”
A key goal is to provide patients with technology that puts their diabetes management in the background – relieving them of some of the complex burdens of managing their chronic condition. Medtronic wants “living lives to the fullest” to be in the foreground instead.
In April 2021, the MiniMed 770G became available in Canada with new features that include automatic dosing and smart phone connectivity, so patients and their health-care providers can easily view data on their glucose measurements. More innovations are on the horizon.
The human touch to augment technology
Medtronic provides 24-7 telephone and online support, and customized training on how to use the system for patients and their health-care providers.
“Diabetes is an incredibly personal, individually managed disease. We recognize how critical that human support is for people living with diabetes at all stages of their diagnosis,” says Ms. Cameron. “We are very proud of our team and all they do to support patients. When people begin using our products and systems, we work as a team to ensure we are always by their side.
“As a company, Medtronic is committed to engineering the extraordinary. We’re excited to bring even better technologies and to continue to support patients. There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing directly from a person that our technology has changed their life or the life of their child.”
Advertising feature produced by Randall Anthony Communications with Diabetes Canada. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.