Doctors make progress toward 'artificial pancreas'
Source: AP-Excite
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE
Doctors are reporting a major step toward an "artificial pancreas," a device that would constantly monitor blood sugar in people with diabetes and automatically supply insulin as needed.
A key component of such a system - an insulin pump programmed to shut down if blood-sugar dips too low while people are sleeping - worked as intended in a three-month study of 247 patients.
This "smart pump," made by Minneapolis-based Medtronic Inc., is already sold in Europe, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing it now. Whether it also can be programmed to mimic a real pancreas and constantly adjust insulin based on continuous readings from a blood-sugar monitor requires more testing, but doctors say the new study suggests that's a realistic goal.
"This is the first step in the development of the artificial pancreas," said Dr. Richard Bergenstal, diabetes chief at Park Nicollet, a large clinic in St. Louis Park, Minn. "Before we said it's a dream. We have the first part of it now and I really think it will be developed."
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130622/DA730PS82.html
Almost 20 year to late for my friend Rodger.
This October 2012 image provided by Medtronic shows the MiniMed Integrated System device, which doctors are reporting as a major step toward an "artificial pancreas." The device that would constantly monitor blood sugar in people with diabetes and automatically supply insulin as needed. According to the company-sponsored study announced Saturday, June 22, 2013 at an American Diabetes Association conference in Chicago the device worked as intended in a three-month study of 247 patients. (AP Photo/Medtronic)
steve2470
(37,457 posts)cstanleytech
(26,334 posts)My AC1s the past year have fluctuated from 9 clear up to a 12.
pinto
(106,886 posts)Here's the technical paper mentioned in the article. From this layman's pov, looks like a promising device to provide a window for follow-up. ~ pinto
Threshold-Based Insulin-Pump Interruption for Reduction of Hypoglycemia
Richard M. Bergenstal, M.D., David C. Klonoff, M.D., Satish K. Garg, M.D., Bruce W. Bode, M.D., Melissa Meredith, M.D., Robert H. Slover, M.D., Andrew J. Ahmann, M.D., John B. Welsh, M.D., Ph.D., Scott W. Lee, M.D., and Francine R. Kaufman, M.D. for the ASPIRE In-Home Study Group
June 22, 2013
Background
The threshold-suspend feature of sensor-augmented insulin pumps is designed to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia by interrupting insulin delivery at a preset sensor glucose value. We evaluated sensor-augmented insulin-pump therapy with and without the threshold-suspend feature in patients with nocturnal hypoglycemia.
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1303576?query=featured_home#t=abstract
(ed for spell)
Mr. David
(535 posts)We are approaching his 8th anniversary of his death (July 7th)....
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)In order to have an International House Of Pacreas.
Orrex
(63,232 posts)K/R
raptor_rider
(1,014 posts)However the artificial pancreas cannot handle the emergency glucose shot that we call big red. Go too low, it'll reject it and its and important shot. My daughter has been type 1 for almost 7 yrs. still itchy on putting her on the pump. She cannot manage her self on her own, and is almost 16. Her Endo wants her A1C around 7 before even considering the pump.
I've read so many malfunctions with the pump. People going into DKA because of a bad site, and going into diabetic low coma, where the pump administers to much insulin. I like the shots better.
DeschutesRiver
(2,354 posts)Have been googling but don't see any mention of that.