MINIMED INC. ANNOUNCES 2-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT

SYLMAR, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- MiniMed Inc. (Nasdaq: MNMD) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a 2-for-1 stock split, in the form of a stock dividend, to result in the issuance of one additional share of common stock for every share of common stock outstanding.

The stock split, which will increase the total number of fully diluted shares outstanding to approximately 14 million, will be effective April 1, 1999 for holders of record at the close of business on that date and will be distributed on April 16, 1999.

Alfred E. Mann, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The Board's decision to declare a stock split reflects our confidence in the continued growth and strong momentum of MiniMed's business. We expect this initiative to further increase the liquidity of the stock and ultimately broaden our stockholder base."

MiniMed Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets advanced infusion systems with a primary emphasis on the intensive management of diabetes. The Company's products include external pumps and related disposables, as well as the distribution of an implantable insulin pump, which is currently approved for sale in the European Community and has not yet been cleared for marketing in the U.S. The Company also distributes other diabetes supplies and pharmaceutical products. The Company has submitted an application for marketing clearance for a system designed to continuously monitor glucose levels, is preparing to introduce other continuous glucose monitoring system products, and is developing new infusion systems to deliver compounds designed to treat a variety of medical conditions. In February 1999 an FDA Advisory Panel issued a unanimous conditional recommendation for agency approval of MiniMed's first product designed to monitor glucose levels continuously.

Any statements made by MiniMed in this press release that are forward-looking, including statements relating to the prospect for continued growth of MiniMed's business and the effect of the stock split on the liquidity of MiniMed's stock and the breadth of its stockholder base are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may affect MiniMed's business and prospects, including changes in economic and market conditions, acceptance of MiniMed's products by the health care and reimbursement communities, health care legislation, new developments in diabetes therapy, administration and regulatory approval and related considerations, and other factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE MiniMed Inc.

-0-                             03/15/99 /CONTACT:  Kevin R. Sayer, 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MiniMed Inc., 
818-362-5958; Investor Relations: Robert P. Jones, Meredith Pudalov, 
212-850-5600, Media: Sheryl Seapy or Amanda Christensen, 415-296-7383, 
all of Morgen-Walke Associates for MiniMed/ 

(MNMD)
CO: MiniMed Inc. ST: California IN: MTC SU: