HANCOCK, Md., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- When a cycling team of eleven Type 1 diabetics ride through Hancock this week as they compete in their second 3,043-mile Race Across America, they’ll be able to concentrate on another win - not insulin injections and blood glucose monitoring.
“Our goal is to show that people with diabetes can do everything those without diabetes can as long as we control our blood sugar levels with proper insulin use,” Phil Southerland, president and co-founding member of Team Type 1, said. “All of us on Team Type 1 are lucky to be armed with the OmniPod(R) Insulin Management System and integrated Freestyle(R) blood glucose monitor, allowing us to continuously and easily deliver the right amount of insulin.”
The OmniPod System consists of two components: a lightweight OmniPod (infuses insulin) that the team members wear on their arms and a handheld, wireless Personal Diabetes Manager (similar to a PDA) that programs the OmniPod. “While we are racing, we are able to keep our Personal Diabetes Managers in the car that follows us. This is a major advantage over traditional insulin pump systems, with which you have to carry the machine at all times,” Phil explained.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the OmniPod system in January 2005. Insulet Corporation of Bedford, MA, the maker of OmniPod, is also one of Team Type 1’s sponsors. The system is available in the eastern United States. Team Type 1 is expected to be riding through Hancock on June 17, 2007. The OmniPod System is available in your community. For more information on it, call (800) 591-3455.
“Insulin is the longest-proven means of keeping blood glucose levels in check, but patients need to be very in tune with how their bodies work and process food for insulin therapy to be most effective,” said Duane DeSisto, President and CEO for Insulet. “Combining continuous insulin delivery and blood glucose monitoring provides patients with freedom to live their lives - or pedal across the country.”
Along with hundreds of cyclists, the Team Type 1 will begin the race on June 12 in Oceanside, CA, and are expected to finish within 5 1/2 days or less in Atlantic City, NJ. Last year, Team Type 1 won Race Across America in their class in a world record time of 5 days, 16 hours and 4 minutes. They also were the first team of persons with diabetes to enter the race.
About Race Across America
Race Across America is the toughest endurance event in the world and offers long-distance cyclists the opportunity to challenge themselves to the height of their abilities. For 2007, over 215 competitors are taking part in the race. Athletes race continuously day and night, on their own power or sharing the challenge with a team, and a crew of 8 -15 people following in support cars with food and supplies for the race. They brave heat, wind, thunderstorms, altitude, the dark of night, fatigue, and sleep deprivation, cross two major mountain ranges, and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.
For more information and race updates, see http://www.teamtype1.org and http://www.raceacrossamerica.org.
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic, life-threatening disease characterized by the failure of the body to produce or properly utilize insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 21 million people in the United States have diabetes, with over 1.5 million new cases diagnosed in 2005 alone. Worldwide, more than 194 million people have diabetes, and the World Health Organization expects the number of cases to reach 366 million by the year 2030.
About Insulet Corporation
Insulet Corporation is an innovative medical device company dedicated to improving the lives of people with diabetes. The Company’s OmniPod Insulin Management System is a revolutionary, discreet and easy-to-use insulin infusion system that features two easy-to-use parts with no tubing and fully- automated cannula insertion. Through the OmniPod System, Insulet seeks to expand the use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy among people with insulin-dependent diabetes. Founded in 2000, Insulet is based in Bedford, MA.
Media Contacts: Paul Kidwell, Lazar Partners for Insulet Corporation Tel. 1+617-296-3854 or +1-617-680-1088 E-mail: pkidwell@lazarpartners.com Erich Sandoval, Lazar Partners for Insulet Corporation Tel. +1-212-867-1762 or +1-917-497-2867 E-mail: esandoval@lazarpartners.com
Insulet Corporation
CONTACT: Paul Kidwell, +1-617-296-3854, +1-617-680-1088,pkidwell@lazarpartners.com, or Erich Sandoval, +1-212-867-1762, +1-917-497-2867, esandoval@lazarpartners.com, both of Lazar Partners for InsuletCorporation
