Artificial pancreas developed for diabetics

Scientists from Cambridge University have developed an artificial pancreas that automatically releases insulin into the blood in response to elevated glucose levels, Nature Medicine reported.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is closely linked to obesity. 20-30% of people with type 2 diabetes also need to take insulin daily to control their blood sugar levels.

Researchers developed a fully automatic system that includes a glucose monitor, an insulin pump and software (the CamAPS HX smartphone app) that predicts how much insulin is needed to keep blood sugar levels in the target range.

The researchers found that when people with type 2 diabetes used the new system, they spent twice as much time with their glucose levels in the target range as when they measured their blood sugar and gave themselves insulin injections. This is equivalent to an extra eight hours a day in the target range.

Improved glucose control can reduce the risk of diabetes complications including blindness, kidney disease and limb amputation. Twenty-six people with type 2 diabetes participated in trials of the system.

None of the participants in the study had dangerously low blood sugar levels, which can occur if the device does not keep blood sugar levels in the target range.

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