Artificial Pancreas

Artificial Pancreas-Hope For Diabetic Children

The latest news says that the scientist in the Cambridge have given an idea that an “artificial pancreas “can be made use in order to regulate the blood sugar in children with diabetes type 1.
In the trail it was found that combining a “real time” sensor for measuring the glucose levels with a pump that delivers insulin can boost overnight control in the levels of blood sugar. Also, the lancet study proved that this device can significantly cut the risk of blood sugar levels dropping dangerously low.
The type 1 diabetes is a chronic and also a life threatening at times. Here the pancreas does not produce insulin, the hormone that control blood sugar levels.
According to the news, about 17 teenagers as well as children suffering from type 1 diabetes were allowed to take part in the study over 54 nights in hospital. Further, the glucose monitoring system and the insulin pump were used individually in the study. These both are commercially available and widely used.
In order to turn children into a “closed loop” system, that monitors the condition of the patient and delivering the treatment according to it, the researchers conducted an advanced algorithm to calculate the appropriate amount of insulin to use. This was based on real time glucose readings.
Henceforth, It was measured how well the artificial pancreas system controlled the blood sugar levels compared to the regular continuous pump, which delivers insulin at preselected rates of the children.
Testing was done in many different circumstances such as on nights when all the children went to bed after eating and having evening meal and exercise. Both of this can increase the risk of low blood sugar levels.
Finally, the result showed that the artificial pancreas kept the glucose levels normal for 60 % of time compared with 40 % for the continuous pump.