Artificial Pancreas Offers Hope to Those Living With Type 1 Diabetes

As reported on Monday, researchers based at the University of Cambridge have successfully created a device that functions as an artificial pancreas. This device can improve overnight blood sugar control, bringing new hope to those suffering from type 1 diabetes.

One problem that many type 1 diabetes sufferers face is not knowing exactly how much insulin to give themselves. If they use too much insulin, their blood sugar can drop very quickly, leading to hypoglycemia. Symptoms of hypoglycemia can include, but are not limited to, hunger, shakiness, nervousness, sweating, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, and anxiety. This can be very dangerous for the patient. This new artificial pancreas device can help to alleviate this problem. The device has a small monitor and pump with a tube that delivers the insulin to the body. The device can actually calculate the exact amount of insulin the body needs based on blood sugar readings accumulated by the device.

A study conducted by the researchers at the University of Cambridge showed that people using the device, aged 5 to 18, spent twice as much time at their appropriate glucose levels than they previously did without the device. This is great news for patients suffering from type 1 diabetes.