Type 1 diabetics to be fitted with artificial pancreas

DIABETIC patients at seven Australian hospitals will get a “game-changing artificial pancreas” that automatically senses when they need insulin and pumps it into their body.

The Australian-first trial, run by the University of Melbourne and St Vincent’s Hospital, aims to see if blood glucose levels can be stabilised, improving quality of life.

A proof-of-concept trial of an earlier version of the artificial pancreas proved successful for a short period in a small group of patients. This trial will test the device in 120 adults over six months.

Associate Professor David O’Neal, leading the study, said the artificial pancreas’s capacity to automatically and precisely control glucose levels made it a game-changer.

“This trial is to show that it can be used in everyday care at home in patients with Type 1 diabetes, to not only improve their blood sugar control but translate into something meaningful in terms of sleep quality, psychological wellbeing and ability to function.

“It’s not a cure for diabetes, but it lifts some of the burden on patients,” Prof O’Neal said.

This article was originally published on Herald Sun. Read the full article here.