New device aims to ease burden on families, children with diabetes

A life-changing device is now available for children.

Being diagnosed with diabetes at a young age is difficult, not only for the child but for the parents having to help them with pricking their finger.

“First I’m going to wipe my finger. Ding!” For Leah Shwedel, who has type one diabetes, testing her blood sugar is now routine.

“Then you do this – and when the button has popped up, that means it’s ready. Don’t forget to add pressure! Pressure, pressure. It doesn’t really hurt,” she said.

But it wasn’t always this easy. Doctors diagnosed Leah with type one diabetes when she was five and her mom, Jessica Shwedel, says it was challenging.

“Every injection – we would scream together, ‘Diabetes – we’re going to kick your butt!’ Just because it was like an outlet for us,” Jessica said.

But now, there’s a new device that aims to ease the burden on families. The FDA just approved the 770-G System for children ages two through six.

It acts like a continuous glucose monitor and an insulin pump all in one, taking the number of injections down to zero and the number of daily finger pricks down as well.