Artificial Pancreas coming soon, Experts say.

[madde]

Researchers working on an artificial pancreas believe they are just a few years away from a nearly carefree way for people with diabetes to monitor blood and inject insulin as needed.

They believe they can link two current technologies -- continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pumps -- into a seamless package.

Such a mechanical pancreas could greatly reduce the need for fingersticks and injections of insulin that diabetics must now endure several times a day.

"I think we are on the brink of a first-generation artificial pancreas," said Dr. Roman Hovorka of Britain's University of Cambridge, who is testing some experimental devices with components by Abbott Laboratories and Medtronic, the No. 1 maker of insulin pumps and continuous monitors.

Hovorka's team has been testing devices in patients with type-1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease caused when the body mistakenly destroys the insulin-making cells in the pancreas.

A continuous glucose sensor is implanted under the skin, and transmits blood sugar readings to a monitor. A computer calculates the right dose of insulin, which is delivered by an insulin pump -- something many patients already wear.
His team is ready to send some patients home with the device, but has to work out the logistics of keeping a nurse full-time in each volunteer's home, just in case.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulators are working closely with the researchers to ensure they design studies in a way that can lead to quick review, said Dr. Aaron Kowalski of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which funds many of the artificial pancreas study teams.

Presented at the National Institutes of Health, Aug 2008

[brokenheart]

I have been wondering about such stuff myself. I am an IT professional, so I always fantasy in that direction.

See, I have a CGM that constantly talks to the pump, then why can't the pump be programmed to automatically calculate the amount of insulin, given the blood sugar number, and delivers it? That way, I simply eat like a Non-D and let the CGM and the pump control my blood sugar.

Now this news seems to say that I am not fantasying about this idea.

[CDoyle1013]

I am glad for the technological move forward in diabetes care....so in a few years, diabetics can use an artificial pancreas???? I thought in a few years (a decade to 15), there would be a cure. I guess researchers have to move forward on two fronts, but I will draw my last breath attempting to find that cure, not another way to monitor diabetes care.

[brokenheart]

I am glad for the technological move forward in diabetes care....so in a few years, diabetics can use an artificial pancreas???? I thought in a few years (a decade to 15), there would be a cure. I guess researchers have to move forward on two fronts, but I will draw my last breath attempting to find that cure, not another way to monitor diabetes care.

My understanding of an artificial pancreas is gonna be like what I said, a combination of a pump and a CGM, but with more advanced (likely automatic) features than what is available now, and it will require much less human intervention in the control of the blood sugar.

[CDoyle1013]

But if I understand the AP correctly, it is an insulin pump attached to the body with the canula under the skin (like my daughter has know and is tired of after almost 5 years of being tethered - we are now back to shots for a break) and a CGMS that is attached in another location with a "canula" underneath the skin (my daughter has done this also). The two different attached devices communicate to each other through mathematical algorithems. My daughter tired of 2 different devices that had to be "moved" after 3 days (pump) and after 5 days (CGS). She is active and having these devices "stuck" to her "weighed" her down. The AP is a better method to control glucose, but it is nowhere close to a cure. Please correct me, if my understanding of the AP is incorrect. Maybe I misunderstand it. I just have a feeling that researchers will first discover immunization that will prevent Type 1 in those who have the antibodies and will simply push those who have Type one to better control mechanisms.

[My_Dana]

But if I understand the AP correctly, it is an insulin pump attached to the body with the cannula under the skin (like my daughter has know and is tired of after almost 5 years of being tethered - we are now back to shots for a break) and a CGMS that is attached in another location with a "canula" underneath the skin (my daughter has done this also). The two different attached devices communicate to each other through mathematical algorithems. My daughter tired of 2 different devices that had to be "moved" after 3 days (pump) and after 5 days (CGS). She is active and having these devices "stuck" to her "weighed" her down. The AP is a better method to control glucose, but it is nowhere close to a cure. Please correct me, if my understanding of the AP is incorrect. Maybe I misunderstand it. I just have a feeling that researchers will first discover immunization that will prevent Type 1 in those who have the antibodies and will simply push those who have Type one to better control mechanisms.

You are basically correct.
However, I think the AP they mention will use a small implanted sensor to
communicate BG levels to the unit.
The unit as I understand it would a CGMS and pump combined.
So should only be one cannula inserted. That would be a step in the right
direction, except Dana has no interest in a pump..

What we need is a cure!

[someone]

I don't think current CGMS systems are nearly accurate enough to be used on a closed loop system. I love my CGMS, but I would NEVER rely on it for automatic insulin dosing.

[Aidyn]

This is SO cool and actually somewhat ironic because I have been saying an invention exactly like this would appear one day. I often brought it up when people were talking about a cure for diabetes; I personally think that while this invention is (obviously) no cure, it will happen sooner than a true diabetes-free life.

I also agree that from my understanding of CGMS, the current products are not nearly accurate enough to rely on, BUT just like every other form of technology, this, too, will improve over the years, I'm sure.