Artificial Pancreas, New Hope for Diabetics

In a medical breakthrough, British researchers have developed an artificial pancreas that can help regulate blood sugar levels in children with type 1 diabetes.

According to a study published in The Lancet, the artificial pancreas can monitor the patient's blood glucose levels around the clock and deliver insulin as required.

The new device keeps blood glucose levels in the normal range for 60% of the time, compared with 40% for the continuous pump, which delivers insulin at preselected rates.

The matchbox-sized monitor attached to a similar-sized pump with a tube to deliver insulin into the body also halves the time in which blood sugar levels are lower than 3.9mmol/l – the level considered as mild hypoglycemia.

"Many parents are up every night to test their child's blood sugar, and many live with the fear that their child won't wake up in the morning," says Aaron j. Kowalski of the juvenile diabetes research foundation, stressing that the device helps lower nighttime hypoglycemic attacks.Apart from hypoglycemic attacks, insulin stacking – a condition which occurs after children go to bed after eating a large evening meal – was less frequent in children, who used the new device.

"This is an important step forward in managing overnight blood glucose levels as well as in the eventual development of a full 'artificial pancreas' which could vastly improve the quality of life for people with type 1 diabetes and reduce the risk of the associated complications," said research manager Victoria King.

http://www.thelancet.com