The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the expanded use of an automated insulin pump system to include those with type 2 diabetes.
It's the first such system for use by people with the more prevalent type 2 form of the disease. The FDA first signed off on the system, which automatically adjusts insulin delivery as needed, for type 1 diabetes in 2022. In approving Insulet's Omnipod 5 insulin delivery system for type 2 diabetes patients , the FDA said the clearance "provides a new option that can automate many of these manual tasks [of tracking and managing blood sugar levels], potentially reducing the burden of living with this chronic disease.
" Insulin options for people with type 2 diabetes have been limited to injection with a syringe, an insulin pen or an insulin pump. These all require patients to administer insulin one or more times a day and to check their blood sugar levels frequently. Now, they have a simpler alternative.
"The FDA has long worked with the diabetes community to ensure access to additional options and flexibilities for diabetes management," Dr. Michelle Tarver, acting director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a news release announcing the expanded use. "The FDA is committed to advancing new device innovation that can improve the health and quality of life for people living with chronic diseases that require day-to-day maintenance like diabetes.
" Insulet applauded the expanded approval. "Today's announcem.