Invention Could Change Lives Of Diabetics

nbc5i.com:

A Texas mom frustrated with constant insulin injections has invented a device that she said is changing the lives of diabetics.

K.K. Patton invented an injection port and now she only has to feel the pain of the needle stick once every three days.

“When it was something that I was going to have to do for the rest of my life, I was like, ‘Wow,’” Patton said.

Patton has Type 1 diabetes, which means at least four insulin shots day. She said she tried the insulin pump, but knew there had to be a better way

“(I) was tired of being connected to the machine, tired of being tied to the disease and so I came up with the idea for the i-port,” she said.

The i-port is the size of a quarter and when it is applied to the skin a needle is injected using a fine catheter. When the needle is removed, the catheter stays in place. Insulin is then injected into the i-port.

Some endocrinologists said the plus for patients is that it stays on for three days.

“You just have to stick yourself once every three days and you’re minimizing the number of needles sticks from 12 sticks every three days to one stick,” said Dr. Rajiv Dattatreya, an Irving endocrinologist.