People With Diabetes Endure Swim Across English Channel to Raise Money for JDRF
By Animas Corporation, PRNEWednesday, July 20, 2011
HIGH WYCOMBE, England, July 21, 2011 -
Using the Waterproof*
Animas® Vibe™ Insulin Pump and CGM
System, People with Diabetes to Participate
in Channel Swim Relay
Six swimmers congregate along the Dover coastline today, to
participate in a 17-hour relay swim across the English Channel to
France. The relay event, sponsored by Animas®,
aims to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
(JDRF) and celebrate people with diabetes performing at their best.
To date, the relay team has already raised more than £1,900 for the
JDRF, through their ‘Just Giving’ website at:
Three of the swimmers participating in the Channel Swim Relay
are people with Type 1 diabetes, and will not only have to overcome
the physical exertion of the challenge and cold water temperatures,
but will also fight to keep their blood sugar levels under control
throughout this long, arduous swim. Each has lived with Type 1
diabetes for more than 10 years, and is able to participate in the
event and control their blood sugar levels thanks to the help of
their Animas waterproof* insulin pump.
“Our team has spent the last seven months training for this
exciting event, and we look forward to making history as we show
the world that people with diabetes can truly live a life without
limits,” said Mark Blewitt, an experienced long distance Channel
swimmer and captain of the Channel Swim Relay team. “I have been
living with Type 1 diabetes for many years, and am thrilled that my
Animas® waterproof* insulin pump is enabling me to participate in
this long-distance swim, while closely monitoring and controlling
my blood sugar levels.”
The Channel Swim Relay will begin near Shakespeare’s Cliff/
Samphire Hoe (which is between Folkestone and Dover), and ends near
Cap Gris Nez, between Boulogne and Calais. The total swimming time
can be from 12 to 17 hours depending on the current. The
temperature of the sea in July will be approximately 15-18 degrees
celcius. Swimmers will also have to endure a few water hazards,
such as seaweed, and jellyfish.
“I’m excited to be taking on this major challenge,” said Matt
Cox, a member of the Channel Swim Relay team. “My son was also
diagnosed with diabetes and I want to show him that he doesn’t have
to adjust his goals in life because of his diabetes. I’m hoping
this challenge will help Jack and other people with diabetes strive
to achieve exactly what they want in life.”
Cox added, “I feel confident about the swim challenge ahead. The
waterproof* element of both the Animas® 2020™ and
Animas® Vibe™ is a bonus to me as I can carry on with my
training feeling reassured that I can continue to control my blood
sugar levels. Since wearing an Animas® pump, my daily
lifestyle has improved and I have much more freedom now that I
don’t have to carry around syringes to take my insulin doses.”
More than 2.6 million people in the UK are currently living with
diabetes, with approximately 10% of those having type 1
diabetes.[1] If the condition is not managed properly
people can develop a complication called hypoglycaemia, as a result
of blood sugar levels dropping below the normal range, leading to
unconsciousness if left untreated.[2] Fear of
hypoglycaemia is the strongest barrier to regular physical activity
in adults with type 1diabetes.[3]
“We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Animas to
celebrate people with diabetes performing at their best,” said
Sarah Johnson, director of policy and communications at the JDRF.
“This relay proves that you don’t have to be an Olympic swimmer to
achieve goals like this. We want to continue to encourage people
with Type 1 diabetes to feel in control of their condition.
Advances in pump tools have made it easier for people to
administer insulin and monitor their blood sugars more closely so
that they can effectively manage their disease.”
To find out more about the Channel swimmers, please visit
search for the ‘Animas® Channel Swim’ group page. To
pledge your support for the Channel Swim Relay and the JDRF, please
visit the ‘Just Giving’ website at:
Notes to editor
About the Swimmers
In total, six swimmers will participate in the Channel Swim
Relay-including three people with diabetes:
- Captain Mark Blewitt: diagnosed at age 13, Mark has
successfully completed open water swims in Lake Windermere, the
English Channel, Loch Lomond and the Gibraltar Straights. - Claire Duncan: after her diagnosis at age 23, Claire
became interested in running and completed over a dozen marathons.
She recently completed an “Ironman” triathlon-a race including a
2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle and 26.2 mile run. - Matt Cox: diagnosed nearly 25 years ago, the 37 year-old
Stockport resident recently participated in the Manchester 10k Run.
Cox’s son Jack also is diagnosed with diabetes.
About Type 1 diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life-threatening condition that
has a life-long impact on those diagnosed with it and their
families. JDRF exists to find the cure for type 1 diabetes.
[4] - People with type 1 diabetes rely on multiple insulin injections
or pump infusions every day just to stay alive, until we find the
cure. [4] - It often strikes children and stays with them for the rest of
their lives.[4] - Type 1 diabetes affects about 350,000 people in the UK, over
25,000 of them children.[1] - Type 1 diabetes reduces life expectancy by about 20
years.[1]
About JDRF
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation exists to find the cure
for type 1 diabetes and its complications, and is the world’s
leading charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research. At a global
level JDRF volunteers and staff have been responsible for raising
over £850 million to support type 1 diabetes research since the
charity’s inception.
About Animas®
As part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, Animas
is dedicated to creating a world without limits for people with
diabetes through a wide range of products, including the
Animas® Vibe™ and Animas® 2020 insulin pumps, and
ezManager® software. Animas, from the Latin word meaning “true
inner self or soul,” has been committed since 1996 to meeting
individual patient needs through the development of
life-performance technology and customer service 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year. To learn more about Animas, visit
or email
About Animas® Vibe™
Animas® Vibe™ marks the first integrated product
offering from Animas Corporation, makers of high-performance
insulin pump technology and Dexcom,
Inc., a leader in continuous glucose sensing
technologies. Unique features include:
- The latest technology available from Dexcom - Dexcom G4™, a
tiny, round and flexible sensor with the smallest introducer needle
as compared to Abbott Freestyle Navigator® and Medtronic
Sof-Sensor® - Advanced high-contrast colour pump screen technology, that
displays glucose trends with coloured arrows and lines showing
where and how fast glucose levels are shifting - Dexcom sensor technology approved for up to seven days of wear,
delivering more days of CGM data than those approved for a shorter
duration - Waterproof durability up to 12 feet (3.6 metres) for 24 hours
for the insulin pump, with a Dexcom G4™ Transmitter that is
waterproof at 8 feet (2.4 metres) for 24 hours - Customisable alarms to indicate high and low glucose levels
including a hypo-safety alarm fixed at 55 mg/dL (3.1mmol/L) - Low basal increment (0.025 U/hr) across all available ranges
for precise dosing - Compatibility with
software, enabling patients to store, review and print both CGM and
insulin pump data
Animas® Vibe™ received CE Mark approval in Europe in
June 2011. It is not approved in the U.S. or anywhere outside
of Europe.
References
1. Diabetes UK. Diabetes in the UK
2010: Key Statistics on diabetes. May 2010
2. National Diabetes Information
Clearinghouse (NDIC).
diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/hypoglycemia/
3. A. Brazeau, R. Rabasa-Lohret, I.
Strychar, H. Mircescu, Barriers to physical activity among patients
with type 1diabetes, Diabetes Care 31 (2008) 2108-2109.
4. JDRF. Type 1 Diabetes Facts.
*The Animas pump is waterproof up to 24 hours and at a
water depth of up to 12 feet/3.6
meters.
AN11-1181A
Media Contacts: Caroline Pavis, Animas Corporation,+1-610-357-3121, CPavis at its.jnj.com. Hollie Matthews or Matthew Coy, Tonic Life Communications, +44(0)20-7798-9900, AnimasUK at toniclc.com
Tags: Animas Corporation, Blood sugar, England, High wycombe, July 21, United Kingdom
