OCEANSIDE, Calif., June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- When a cycling team of eleven Type 1 diabetics step onto their bikes for their second 3,043-mile Race Across America again this week, they'll be able to concentrate on another win - not insulin injections and blood glucose monitoring.

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"Our goal is to show that people with diabetes can do everything those without diabetes can as long as we control our blood sugar levels with proper insulin use," Phil Southerland, president and co-founding member of Team Type 1, said. "All of us on Team Type 1 are lucky to be armed with the OmniPod? Insulin Management System and integrated Freestyle? blood glucose monitor, allowing us to continuously and easily deliver the right amount of insulin."

The OmniPod System consists of two components: a lightweight OmniPod (infuses insulin) that the team members wear on their arms and a handheld, wireless Personal Diabetes Manager (similar to a PDA) that programs the OmniPod. "While we are racing, we are able to keep our Personal Diabetes Managers in the car that follows us. This is a major advantage over traditional insulin pump systems, with which you have to carry the machine at all times," Phil explained.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the OmniPod system in January 2005. Insulet Corporation of Bedford, MA, the maker of OmniPod, is also one of Team Type 1's sponsors. The system is available in the eastern and mid-western U.S. and on the U.S. west coast.

"Insulin is the longest-proven means of keeping blood glucose levels in check, but patients need to be very in tune with how their bodies work and process food for insulin therapy to be most effective," said Duane DeSisto, President and CEO of Insulet. "Combining continuous insulin delivery and blood glucose monitoring provides patients with freedom to live their lives - or pedal across the country."

Along with hundreds of cyclists, the Team Type 1 will begin the race on June 12 in Oceanside, CA, and are expected to finish within 5-1/2 days or less in Atlantic City, NJ. Last year, Team Type 1 won Race Across America in their class in a world record time of 5 days, 16 hours and 4 minutes. They also were the first team of persons with diabetes to enter the race.

About Race Across America

Race Across America is the toughest endurance event in the world and offers long-distance cyclists the opportunity to challenge themselves to the height of their abilities. For 2007, over 215 competitors are taking part in the race. Athletes race continuously day and night, on their own power or sharing the challenge with a team, and a crew of 8-15 people following in support cars with food and supplies for the race. They brave heat, wind, thunderstorms, altitude, the dark of night, fatigue, and sleep deprivation, cross two major mountain ranges, and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.

For more information and race updates, see and

About Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic, life-threatening disease characterized by the failure of the body to produce or properly utilize insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 21 million people in the United States have diabetes, with over 1.5 million new cases diagnosed in 2005 alone. Worldwide, more than 194 million people have diabetes, and the World Health Organization expects the number of cases to reach 366 million by the year 2030.

About Insulet Corporation

Founded in 2000, Insulet Corporation is a medical device company. It seeks to improve the lives of people with diabetes and expand the use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy through innovative technology and feedback from people with diabetes and healthcare professionals.

Media Contacts: Paul Kidwell, Lazar Partners for Insulet Corporation Tel. 1+617-296-3854 or +1-617-680-1088 E-mail: pkidwell@lazarpartners.com Erich Sandoval, Lazar Partners for Insulet Corporation Tel. +1-212-867-1762 or +1-917-497-2867 E-mail: esandoval@lazarpartners.com

Source: Insulet Corporation
　　

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