About Us
How it started...
As an endocrinologist, I was delighted when the first closed-loop system (then the MiniMed 670G) finally became available in Belgium in 2019. I had been looking forward to being able to offer this to our patients with (type 1) diabetes for years because the results are truly superior to any other form of insulin delivery.
Unexpected barriers
At that time, however, we had no experience with Medtronic pumps, let alone the MiniMed 670G. This system was then presented as something very difficult and complicated to learn, which made our team hesitate to start and/or offer it to our patients. The company could only come and explain after we decided how many pumps we were going to buy, and it was very difficult to get our whole team together for the various 2-hour education sessions, which were also postponed a few times due to corona. Finally, there was talk of providing the reimbursement of closed-loop systems only to centers with experience, so that we, like the majority of the diabetes centers, might be excluded.
This is how our team was prepared for closed-loop therapy
However, I believed there must be a better way to teach this new technology to our team and to every diabetes team in a fast and efficient way, so that every patient with diabetes can receive the best care. That's how I got the idea to make an online course about it, which would be time and cost efficient. I read the instructions for use several times before and wore the pumps and sensors myself, trying to summarize all of the information I could find from every reliable source imaginable. I filmed the actions and learned how to make video edits and courses. Thanks to these courses, our team gained confidence in their knowledge, and our patients now have something to fall back on if they have forgotten something.
I have already created several online courses about closed-loop systems, and with each version the content gets stronger and better. In the meantime, we have also been able to build up quite a bit of experience with the Minimed 780G, and I was asked by various companies and by the Diabetes Liga to speak about it as an expert.
Introduction
Dr. Inge Van Boxelaer
Founder and endocrinologist with 10 years of experience at AZ St-Lucas Gent in Belgium, specializes in diabetes technology and is the chairman of the Belgian Society of Endocrino-Diabetologists. She is known for her passion and positive, dynamic approach to care.
Dr. Henk-Jan Aanstoot
A pediatrician-diabetologist and founder of Diabeter, an independent treatment center focused on the treatment of type 1 diabetes in the Netherlands, is dedicated to helping patients with type 1 diabetes and is known for his expertise and compassionate approach to patient care.
Dr. Liesbeth Van Huffel
An enthusiastic endocrinologist at OLV Hospital Aalst in Belgium with a strong interest in diabetes technology, is well-regarded for her patient-oriented perspective, expertise and passion for improving patient outcomes through technology.
Prof. Dr. Laurent Crenier
Head of the Diabetology Clinic at Hôpital Erasme in Brussels and president of the Association Du Diabète, is a respected leader in the field of diabetes care and known for his expertise, commitment to innovation, and patient-centered approach to care.
Advisory board
Prof. Dr. Lutz Heinemann
- CEO of Profil Institut für Stoffwechselforschung GmbH 1999 – 2009
- Partner and Scientific Consultant Profil Institut für Stoffwechselforschung and Profil
Institut for Clinical Research Ltd. since 2009 - Coordinator [email protected], an EU-funded Research Project 2010 - 2015
- Managing Editor of the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology since August
2011
Melissa Holloway
Having lived with type 1 diabetes since 1994, I started working in and around the diabetes care industry in 2003. I love communicating about diabetes technology, especially insulin pump therapy, CGM and DIY artificial pancreas systems (#wearenotwaiting). From 2013 to 2018, I helped run the UK diabetes technology access advocacy organisation INPUT (now part of JDRF UK). Born and raised in Virginia in the US, I live in central London with my husband and two young children.
Education about diabetes technology is important because the more people with diabetes know about self-management, the better we can use available tools and systems; and the more our healthcare teams know about what's available, the better they can support us.