Ryan Worm is one of an estimated 1.25 million Americans living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is vital to maintaining stable blood sugar levels. Unstable blood sugar levels can lead to serious illness including kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, heart attack and stroke; and even death. That is why Type 1 diabetics, like Ryan, depend on multiple daily injections of insulin or an insulin pump.
 
In 2017, Ryan became the first patient in the state of Wisconsin to utilize a new, state-of-the-art insulin pump under the care of Dr. Sarah Mirocha, a Prevea Health endocrinologist at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan. It is called the MiniMed 670G System, the first insulin pump in the world that can measure a patient’s blood sugar and deliver a personalized amount of insulin every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day.
 
“This technology is a significant breakthrough for patients with T1D as it will take on more of the work for patients and alleviate some of the mental burden associated with the daily management of T1D,” said Dr. Mirocha. “Prevea Health is proud to be one of the first health care organizations in the state of Wisconsin to offer the MiniMed 670G System.”
 
Prior to the MiniMed 670G System, referred to as a “smart pump,” Ryan had to spend more time managing his diabetes. He had to manually test his blood sugar levels before eating and going to bed, and meals had to be timed out. Now, as part of the smart pump system, Ryan wears a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) that checks his blood sugar every few minutes. Those numbers are displayed on the pump, allowing Ryan to keep track of his blood sugar with a simple glance at any given time.
 
“I don’t have to think about my diabetes 24/7 anymore,” said Ryan, who lives in Plymouth, Wis. with his wife and three children. “I can wake up in the morning, be confident that my blood sugars are stable and not stress about what I can or cannot eat. The pump does the thinking for me.”
 
Ryan’s smart pump, combined with the exceptional care he receives from Dr. Mirocha, allows him to spend more time doing the things he loves - and less time worrying about his diabetes.
 
“Dr. Mirocha listens and understands my needs as a diabetic,” said Ryan. It’s refreshing to have someone in your life that is on your side and wants the best for you.”
 
The Prevea Endocrinology experts at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital manage a variety of insulin pumps and CGMs in addition to the new smart pump. “We are equipped with the skills and technology to serve patients for a variety of diabetic needs, and we keep up to date to ensure they receive the most advanced treatments and diagnoses,” said Dr. Mirocha.