By Healthymagination | Posted November 1 2010
Research sheds light on innovative technology to help Type 1 diabetes
Guest blogger Stacy Lipson is a freelance writer specializing in health, women’s health and nutrition. Her work has appeared in national publications and websites including Natural Health magazine, Sprig.com, MarieClaire.com and various media outlets and websites.
There’s still no cure for diabetes. But new data suggests that an artificial pancreas can efficiently control overnight glucose for people with Type 1 diabetes in a variety of real-life situations. It’s still years off, but it’s offering sufferers new hope.
In a recent study presented by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, researchers found that when using an artificial pancreas system overnight, adults were able to keep their target blood glucose range within 70 percent. Researchers reported lower levels of hypoglycemia when the system was tested in 12 adults, who ate a large meal and drank a glass of white wine before bed.
“This is a major step forward,” reports Aaron Kowalski, PhD, Research Director at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). “The artificial pancreas will help patients improve their health both physically and emotionally.”
Here’s how the artificial pancreas works: a pager-sized insulin pump is attached to a small bit of skin that continuously monitors blood glucose levels. At the same time, the computer software (algorithm) communicates glucose levels to the insulin pump. In the third part of the artificial pancreas, a glucose monitor is attached to the body with a wire that measures blood glucose levels.
This system offers optimism for the three million Americans suffering from type 1 diabetes. A daily regiment can include pricking a finger up to 12 times a day to maintain safe blood sugar levels. One of the most dangerous concerns for diabetics is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can cause coma or death if left untreated. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include blurred vision, sweating, loss of consciousness, and heart palpations.
The artificial pancreas will be able to help diabetics get a swift reading of their blood sugar levels.
Kowalski estimates that the artificial pancreas is at least five years away from being offered to the public. At this moment, the technology is being studied to improve the accuracy of continuous glucose monitoring. If the artificial pancreas is offered to the public, diabetics will still be asked to manually monitor their blood sugar levels on a daily basis.
“The technology is still evolving,” says Kowalski. “But we’re striving for better solutions.”
CONNECT THE DOTS
To learn more about the Artificial Pancreas project, visit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The National Institute of Health MedlinePlus offers an overview of Type 1 diabetes and the Mayo Clinic provides tips for managing your diabetes.
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