For several years now, people have been discussing the Artificial Pancreas, which is now in clinical trials in the U.S. The artificial pancreas is an external device which uses a continuous glucose monitor and an insulin pump combined with a sophisticated computer algorithm to automatically deliver insulin to the body based on real-time changes in blood sugar levels. The system automatically increases insulin delivery when it senses blood sugars going above the high end of a pre-set range and slows down or turns off insulin delivery when it senses blood sugars moving below the low end of a pre-set range.
For more information on this and other great projects sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, please visit JDRF.org.
Further Reading
~Lori Dotson, CPT, CPFT, PES, BA, MS
President, DotsoFit, LLC
Copyright © 2012
Millions of people suffer from type 1 diabetes and many of them have lost their ability to sense blood sugar lows so this technology could potentially save their life. It will also help prevent type 1 diabetics from experiencing a potentially life-threatening blood sugar low in the middle of the night. In addition, it will allow for much tighter control of blood sugar levels, reducing the long-term health consequences and medical costs associated with the disease. One study suggests that the device could reduce Medicare costs by $22 million after only ten years and by $1.0 billion after 25 years (http://www.jdrf.org/files/General_Files/APP/Changes_in_Medicare_Spending_for_Type1.pdf).
For more information on this and other great projects sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, please visit JDRF.org.
Further Reading
- The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group. Lifetime benefits and costs of intensive therapy as practiced in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. JAMA 1996;276:1409-15.
- Kowalski AJ. Can we really close the loop and how soon? Accelerating the availability of an artificial pancreas: a roadmap to better diabetes outcomes. Diabetes Technol Ther. Jun 2009;11 Suppl 1:S113-119.
- Hovorka R, Allen JM, Elleri D, et al. Manual closed-loop insulin delivery in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a phase 2 randomised crossover trial. Lancet. Feb 27;375(9716):743-751.
~Lori Dotson, CPT, CPFT, PES, BA, MS
President, DotsoFit, LLC
Copyright © 2012
