TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2011 /CNW Telbec/ - Auto Control Medical, a privately owned Toronto-based company that distributes
self-monitoring medical devices, is launching EZSCAN in Canada. EZSCAN is a device designed to identify those at risk of
developing Type 2 diabetes. This non-invasive testing is painless and
takes less than three minutes for the results. "It was developed to
identify prediabetes," said Robert Burgy, President of Auto Control
Medical, "if you know you are at risk, then you can do something to try
and prevent it from progressing to Type 2 diabetes."
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, there are nine million
Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes. Of these, two million
are unaware that they suffer from the disease. Prediabetes is when
blood glucose levels have started to rise but are not high enough to
confirm a diabetes diagnosis.
"I have Type 2 diabetes myself, and as a person with diabetes bringing
this technology to Canada means a great deal to me. It's a huge step
forward when at risk Canadians can be warned of the first signs of
diabetes", said Burgy.
Developed in France by Impeto Medical, EZSCAN offers Healthcare
Professionals a way to screen large numbers of people quickly and
economically. "There are a number of diseases that are spreading like
epidemics," says Philippe Brunswick, Impeto Medical CEO, "and we are
trying to find ways to economically screen for them."
EZSCAN uses sets of electrodes that measure the electrochemical reaction
between these electrodes in contact with the patient's hands and feet
and the chloride ions released by the sweat glands. Leading
researchers only recently realized that damage to small nerves began
occurring before conventional blood tests would detect anything
abnormal. Degeneration of the small nerve fibers reduces innervation of
eccrine sweat glands. It has just been approved for distribution by
Health Canada and has been licensed for sale in Europe, China and
Australia.
There are two types of diabetes: Type I diabetes, usually manifests
itself during childhood. Type 2 diabetes, or often called adult onset
diabetes, usually develops when a person is mature.
The onset of Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented through diet,
physical exercise and weight loss.
"This is where EZSCAN comes into play," says Burgy, who will distribute
the machines to medical offices, pharmacies and home health care
stores. This will enable the health care provider to participate fully
in preventing or delaying the onset of Type 2 diabetes for their
patients and customers.
"Simply put, EZSCAN can identify people who are at risk of developing
diabetes and once you know you are at risk, you can do something to try
and prevent it," says Burgy.
When it comes to both individual and mass screening for prediabetes,
EZSCAN offers a number of critical advantages over the standard blood
test. It is painless and fasting is not required. It can be done anytime and while blood tests take days for
results, EZSCAN results are immediate, reliable and reproducible. The
results are delivered in a colour coded graph and are easily read. A
green measurement equates to "no risk", yellow means "moderate risk,"
orange identifies "high risk" and red is "a very high risk."
About Auto Control Medical Inc.
Auto Control Medical has been supplying Canadians with innovative health
care products for over 20 years, from its offices in Mississauga
(Ontario) and Pointe-Claire (Quebec). Its products include iTest
glucose monitors, ExtendBar and LifeSource blood pressure monitors,
Canada's leading brand, among others.
Image with caption: "EZ Scan in use (CNW Group/Auto Control Medical)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111129_C2070_PHOTO_EN_7428.jpg
Image with caption: "Screen capture of EZ Scan (CNW Group/Vectorandshift) (CNW Group/Auto Control Medical)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111129_C2070_PHOTO_EN_7429.jpg
