ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS HELPS STABILIZE BLOOD GLUCOSE IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES
Persistently high blood glucose places patients with diabetes at serious risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss, and even blindness.
Normally, the pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that allows glucose in the bloodstream to enter cells for energy.
However, people with type 1 diabetes produce little or no insulin. Without insulin, glucose accumulates in the blood, causing extreme fatigue, blurred vision, weight loss, and confusion. Patients must therefore take daily insulin to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Statistics also show that 20–30% of patients with type 2 diabetes eventually require daily insulin as well.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge (UK) previously developed an artificial pancreas powered by an advanced algorithm, proven effective in people with type 1 diabetes.
Now, they have tested this system in individuals with type 2 diabetes undergoing dialysis.
How the Artificial Pancreas Works
The artificial pancreas is designed as an automatic insulin delivery system that mimics the function of the human pancreas.
It uses a closed-loop setup consisting of:
A continuous glucose monitor
An insulin pump
A smartphone-operated algorithm
The device predicts and delivers the precise amount of insulin needed to maintain safe blood glucose levels.
Wearable by the patient, the system includes a glucose sensor, an insulin pump, and requires a smartphone for operation.
Earlier versions for type 1 diabetes required patients to manually enter information about meals multiple times a day.
In contrast, the new system for type 2 diabetes is fully automated, meaning no user input is required.
Safety and Effectiveness
Researchers found that the artificial pancreas is significantly safer and more effective in controlling blood glucose for patients with type 2 diabetes compared with standard insulin therapy.
No participants in the study experienced dangerous hypoglycemia.
The device greatly improves quality of life by eliminating the need for:
Frequent finger-prick glucose testing
Multiple daily insulin injections
Regular medication adjustments