A DIABETIC woman has become one of the first in the region to receive a new form of treatment to help with the condition.

Karen Curtis, 40, from Durham, who works as an office administrator, is using a new pump technology system.

The mother-of-two has received the MiniMed 670G system on the NHS, thought to be the first and only system to automate and personalise the delivery of basal insulin 24 hours a day.

Ms Curtis was diagnosed with type one diabetes when she was 11 years old and has used a number of methods over the last 29 years to help manage her blood sugar levels and prevent the spikes, known as hypers, and lows, hypos, that are characteristic of the disease.

Since starting on the new system, under the supervision of her care team at the University Hospital of North Durham last year, she has noticed a number of life-transforming benefits.

Ms Curtis said: “I had a great summer of walking, canoeing, swimming in the sea and splashing in the pool for hours on end with my gorgeous family, all wearing the pump but without having to worry about my blood sugars.

“The Automode facility on my pump recognised the additional activity and responded by reducing my basal insulin, preventing any hypos and allowing me more time to focus on having fun with my boys.”

The firm behind the product said it represents an important step towards a fully automated closed loop system and that it is the world’s first self-adjusting insulin pump for type one diabetes.

It features Medtronic’s SmartGuard technology and an accurate glucose monitor.

The technology finds patterns and makes predictions, enabling the system to mimic some of the functions of a healthy pancreas by making micro adjustments to insulin delivery every five minutes to stabilise glucose levels.

The system is for people over seven and is not indicated for use in pregnancy or those with type two diabetes.

Dr Kamal Abouglila, a consultant at the University Hospital of North Durham, said: “We’re delighted to see Karen doing so well with the system. We have seen first-hand how it can help people with type 1 diabetes achieve improved glucose control, which can make a real difference to the quality of their day-to-day lives as well as to their longer-term outcomes.”