Artificial Pancreas research

Interesting research for Type 1.

Artificial Pancreas Could Revolutionize Treatment Of Type 1 Diabetes

ScienceDaily (Oct. 30, 2008) — Researchers at the University of Virginia and sites across the globe are testing a computerized, subcutaneous system that could one day transform the way Type 1 diabetics manage their disease.

U.Va. investigators have completed the first of several international artificial pancreas clinical trials to test an individually-"prescribed" control algorithm, which regulates blood glucose levels in Type 1 diabetics. U.Va.is one of seven centers worldwide funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to perform the novel closed-loop computer simulation of the human metabolic system.

Since late June, researchers have successfully tested the new system on five patients at the U.Va. Health System. Three additional patients participated in a parallel study at the University of Padova, Italy.

"Our initial results are very encouraging," said Boris Kovatchev, associate professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences and of systems and information engineering, who is leading U.Va.'s research team. "The system entirely maintained the patients' blood glucose levels, and the algorithm achieved excellent overnight control without any incidence of hypoglycemia."

Kovatchev, internationally known for his expertise in applying advanced computational methods to diabetes research, was one of the scientists who developed the system's novel algorithm, which allows for personalized treatment for each patient. By linking patients' glucose monitors with their insulin pumps, the "smart" program automatically regulates the amount of insulin a patient needs.

Researchers were granted Food and Drug Administration approval, based solely on computer simulation experiments, to test the artificial pancreas in humans, without any prior animal trials. The action cut research development time from several years to six months.

"This artificial pancreas could one day greatly improve the current methods of self-treatment for Type 1 diabetes," Kovatchev said. "Instead of a patient having to measure his or her blood sugar with a glucose meter several times a day and self-administer insulin injections, this system would continuously regulate the patient's blood glucose, much like the way a non-diabetic's pancreas functions."

Complete results from the initial clinical trials at the U.Va.Health System, the University of Padova and the University of Montpellier, France, are expected by the end of 2008.

Hello nick, the article you posted sounds brilliant. Wish they could hurry up! What is your personal opinion of medtronic-diabetes.co.uk insulin pump with continuous glucose readings? Am going to my d nurse this afternoon and although still not 100% sure yet and getting more and more iterested in pumps.

know you are a medic and wonder if you have had any dealings with D who have pumps? I went to a afternoon at Kings Lynn hospital organised by the D team and we met two women who love their pumps. Have been d 21 years and am interested in anything that helps me control Slevels!

\my 8 yr old daughter is off shcool today and please accept her e

Hi Justine,

I have read a lot about the pumps and have spoken to other Podiatrists to see if they know anyone who has a pump and drawn a blank so far! I haven't seen a bad review or paper on them yet and I suspect that many more people want them than NHS is willing to supply.

I have no idea what kind of guidelines each separate NHS Trust will lay down for people to have them but I suspect that it will be extreme !! (Not that I suspect for one moment you haven't already thought about that!!! )

I have a friend who works for Medtronic...I'll see if he can get em to produce them a lot cheaper. As for the pancreas...no doubt they will get them out as soon as they can but will NICE ( I hate that abbreviation) wear it??

That's a whole different subject.

Good luck to you if you can get one or find something to help you. Do let me know .

Cheers
Nick

Hehehehe and thank your daughter for her smileys too


back to her!!!

N

Hi nick, talked to diabetic nurse and she said my specialist is not so keen because of the sever complications if the pump malfunctions, there is a blockage in the canular or kink in the tubes. The pump gives such small amounts of insulin that they only last for 5 mins and then with no background longacting insulin patient can get ill v quickly, ktones etc. If i go on it will have to do lots of prep and show I am fully committed to carb counting and bloodtesting. The meditronic pump has a hand held blood testing kit that u need to use every day, this then communicates with your inserted blood monitor to calabrate and check results. Does sound like a hand full but surely to be able to see 24hr blood glucose readings would be amazing. West Norfolk NHS has one continuous blood test monitor that patients are plugged into over night but sadley stroppy male teenager didnt like it so ripped all wires out and broke it. Now have to set my alarm at 3am,4am and 5am for week to make sure not having hypos in night!! Bring on the technology. Thanks for reply and take care

Justine, let me know how you get on, over 25 years ago I was one of the first people to trial insulin pumps when they first came on the market. I had it for 12 months, then ripped it out, I didn't like it, but it was big and bulky and made lots of noise, but it was interesting to take part in the local trials. To be honest I never got any kinks in the wires or anything and I'm sure you'd soon know if you weren't getting any insulin - surely enough time to inject yourself with a standby supply of insulin.

My cousin was due to go on a pump last month, haven't heard from her for awhile, I might just chase her up - she is however a nurse up in Scotland.