There is likely to be an artificial pancreas by 2018
The concept of the development of an artificial pancreas to control diabetes is intriguing. Diabetologia has reported via EurekAlert that it is likely we will have an artificial pancreas by 2018.
An artificial pancreas is a device which can be used for patients with type 1 diabetes to have their insulin monitored and automatically adjusted. Technology which is presently available allows insulin pumps to deliver insulin to people who have diabetes after a reading or readings are taken from glucose meters, however these two components are separate. Authors Dr Roman Hovorka and Dr Hood Thabit of the University of Cambridge say it is the joining together of both parts into a 'closed loop' which makes an artificial pancreas. Users are positive about this concept with feelings it offers them time off from constantly monitoring their blood glucose levels.
Improvements in technology have made the alternatives of both whole pancreas transplantation and of transplants of just the beta cells from the pancreas which produce insulin possible.
However people who have these transplants need drugs to suppress their immune systems just as with other organ transplants. Furthermore with whole pancreas transplantation, major surgery is needed; and in beta cell islet transplantation, the body's immune system may still attack the cells which are transplanted and kill off a significant proportion of them. With the use of an artificial pancreas the need for major surgery and immunosuppressant drugs is avoided.
This study has been published in the journal Diabetologia. The unmet clinical need for improved glucose control while lowering the burden of diabetes self-care in people suffering from type 1 diabetes is addressed by the artificial pancreas. It should be really exciting to watch continued milestones being made towards moving the artificial pancreas from the lab to free-living unsupervised home settings. The successful development of the artificial pancreas should make life significantly better for people afflicted with type 1 diabetes.
