(This post is sponsored by Ypsomed Canada Inc.)
I’m excited to introduce you to my guest today! I recently got a chance to chat with Todd Durniak, General Manager of Ypsomed Canada Inc. about the YpsoPump, Ypsomed’s products for MDI, and what Ypsomed is working on for the future.
If you haven’t heard of Ypsomed, or if you have questions about the company, you don’t want to miss this interview!
Q. Todd, thanks so much for chatting with me today. I have to say, even though Ypsomed has been in Canada since 2019, a lot of people with T1D haven’t heard of the company. While Ypsomed is the newest insulin pump company in Canada, the company itself was actually established quite a while ago. Can you give a bit of an introduction about what Ypsomed is and what the company is all about?
A. Ypsomed has a deep history in Diabetes care, starting out as Disetronic which introduced the first commercially available insulin pump in 1985. Along with the insulin pumps and our line of pen needles, we expanded the delivery systems business, one of the world’s largest suppliers of injection devices. When the original Insulin pump business was sold to Roche in 2003, Disetronic became Ypsomed and split into 2 divisions, Ypsomed Diabetes Care and Ypsomed delivery systems. After working with Insulet to distribute the Omnipod to EU markets, we launched the YpsoPump in Europe in 2016 and in Canada later in 2019.
Currently, we are proud to present a line of diabetes care products and content to help Canadians living with insulin-dependent diabetes. And we will continue to explore opportunities to support people who are newly diagnosed, on injections, or on an insulin pump.
Q. So, the YpsoPump is in Europe and Canada, but not yet in the US? It’s quite unusual for insulin pump companies to come to Canada before the US. Why did Ypsomed choose to release its products in Canada first?
A. Our US strategy is different than the direct approach we have in Canada. We have entered into a partnership with Eli Lilly in the US to supply a private label version of the YpsoPump.
Q. That’ll be interesting for our US readers. Something for them to keep an eye out for. Let’s talk about the YpsoPump. The pump is paired with an app on the user’s phone. That’s not common with other insulin pumps that are currently on the market. Can you go over how it
works?
A. The YpsoPump can wirelessly transfer data via Bluetooth to the Ypsomed App. Pairing the pump with our app offers therapy calculations and the flexibility to capture information directly from the pump to facilitate synchronization between the YpsoPump user and their healthcare professional (through the Ypsomed Cloud). Using app-based
technology also allows for future pump updates to be delivered directly via our app once cleared by Health Canada.
Q. Interesting. It sounds quite user-friendly. Does the YpsoPump have other features that are different from other insulin pumps?
A. The first thing most people notice about the YpsoPump is the size and weight. Weighing only 83g (includes a full insulin reservoir and AAA battery – covering 30 days of operation) and equivalent in size to a standard business card, we are the smallest and lightest tubed pump available.
Other features that stand out are our glass insulin reservoir, which allows you to keep insulin in the pump for up to 7 days, or in the fridge for 30 days. The pump is also an icon-based operating system, with an OLED touch screen, similar to a smartphone. ….
Ultimately the YpsoPump was designed with the goal to make pump therapy simple,
discreet and easy-to-use.
Q. Yes, the glass reservoir was something that caught my eye. Being able to pre-fill the insulin can be helpful in a lot of situations. Especially for children who are working towards independence if they’re at school or going for sleepovers.
Speaking of easy-to-use, many people with T1D have a strong preference when it comes to cannulas for their pump sites. Are there cannula options with YpsoPump?
A. Having options is important. We offer stainless and soft cannulas available with our Orbit infusion sets and a soft version of the YpsoPump Inset infusion sets.
Q. That’s great to hear. Having an insulin pump attached to your body 24/7 should be as comfortable as possible.
What about coverage? I know a few provinces are providing coverage for the YpsoPump. Which provinces have coverage, and do you expect others to follow suit?
A. As of this writing, we are covered in BC, as a Tier 1 Insulin Pump, Manitoba, and Ontario’s ADP. We are in the process of expanding provincial coverage across Canada.
Q. And the Ypsomed App, it can be used with or without the YpsoPump? That means people who are doing MDI (multiple daily injections) can use the app to help with their T1D management as well. What are some of the features that would be beneficial to someone who is doing MDI?
A. For app users on MDI, many find the logbook and bolus calculator capabilities useful. You also have the option to enter and share data within the app to facilitate therapy discussions with healthcare providers.
Q. That’s true. I’ve found the bolus calculator very helpful for my son’s T1D management. I especially like that it keeps track of his IOB (insulin on board) for us. Does Ypsomed have other products or resources for people who are on MDI?
A. Recently, we partnered with Save-on-Foods pharmacy to distribute our Clickfine pen needles within their stores, throughout Western Canada. We are working to expand the distribution of our Clickfine pen needles across Canada.
Q. Ypsomed and Dexcom announced that the two products will be integrating into a Looping
system. Do you know when this is expected to happen and what it will look like for people who
are using the YpsoPump?
A. We have launched our App integration with Dexcom G6 sensors in select markets in Europe. Looping solutions for Canada will come later as we submit our medical device license amendments to Health Canada. You can keep up to date and learn more about our Ypsomed Loop Program on our website: www.ypsomed-diabetescare.com.
Q. Is Ypsomed working on anything else that people with T1D should hear about?
A. Yes! Ypsomed is clearly a company that has deep roots in diabetes care and offers products to cover MDI and Pump therapy modalities. We realize there is more to do to offer more freedom and more confidence to people living with diabetes. We will not stand still. Stay tuned!
Thanks so much to Todd for taking the time to chat with me about Ypsomed!
As a mother of a T1D child who chooses to manage with MDI, I really love seeing an insulin pump company that spends time on information and products for those on MDI as well as pump users.
If you want to learn more about Ypsomed and their products, you can visit the Ypsomed website for more info!
As always, Happy Carb Counting!
~ Leah
For more tips, information, and stories about T1D, join the Carb Counting Mama email list and make sure to head over to the Carb Counting Mama Facebook page and “like” it.
