'Artificial pancreas' helps diabetics
Published: 7 February 2010
Author: Catherine Archer
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Cambridge scientists have developed an 'artificial pancreas' to regulate blood sugar levels for Type 1 diabetics
An "artificial pancreas" that regulates blood sugar levels more effectively in children with type 1 diabetes has been developed by Cambridge scientists.
The device includes a sensor connected to an insulin pump that cuts the risk of blood glucose falling dangerously low while children are sleeping - known as overnight hypoglycaemia.
Regular pumps provide a continual flow of insulin at predetermined intervals throughout the night, but the "pancreas" takes real-time blood sugar readings and periodically calculates how much hormone is appropriate.
A study of 17 youngsters showed the system kept blood sugar levels normal for 60% of the time, compared with 40% for those using the regular pump.
The "pancreas" was also successful in halving the number of mild hypoglycaemia instances, when glucose levels drop below 3.9mmol/l and completely stopped significant "hypos" by preventing blood sugar from reaching less than 3.0mmol/l.
Nine hypos occurred in the control group using the regular pump, according to the study published in The Lancet medical journal.
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Karen Addington, chief executive of Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, which funded the research, said: "This study is proof of principle that type 1 diabetes in children can be safely managed overnight with an artificial pancreas system.
"We need to redouble our efforts to move the artificial pancreas from a concept in the clinic to a reality in the home of children and adults with type 1 diabetes."
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