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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'Bionic Pancreas' Astonishes Diabetes Researchers
Cross posting from the Diabetes Support Group. This could be huge for millions of people. No, it is not a 'cure' per se but it serves as a virtual one until that day comes.A "bionic pancreas that uses a smart phone, glucose monitor and insulin pump to automatically control blood sugar levels helped more than two dozen people live free of finger pricks and other troublesome reminders of diabetes, researchers reported Sunday.
And the system controlled their blood sugar levels far better than they could have done on their own, the researchers told a meeting of the American Diabetes Association.
I was astonished at how well it worked in a real-world setting, said Ed Damiano of Boston University, who worked on the project.
Its finally offering a tantalizing glimpse at a normal life for people with Type 1 diabetes, often called juvenile diabetes.
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/diabetes/bionic-pancreas-astonishes-diabetes-researchers-n130956
berni_mccoy
(23,018 posts)I have two children with type-1. Medtronic is also working on this solution.
The system brings a great amount of security from night time lows. Even with it though, there is lots of pain and needles (infusion sets, subcutaneous sensors, etc). And they must always know how to administer insulin manually in the event the system fails.
Baitball Blogger
(46,756 posts)A Little Weird
(1,754 posts)Sounds very promising.
Jokerman
(3,518 posts)It's all external but she has an insulin pump and a Constant Glucose Monitor that sends data directly to the pump.
unfortunately the CGM is still being perfected and the one she has isn't quite accurate enough but it is amazing technology that continues to improve.
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)RedSpartan
(1,693 posts)There was a big article on this in Diabetes Forecast (the magazine of the American Diabetes Association) last fall. Glad to see it getting out there more publicly now. The more people know of this, the more funding and research will be available, the sooner it will be on the market. Next to a cure, this is the golden ticket; a "closed loop" system that functions as an external pancreas.
I am cautious - - as is any diabetic or parent of one - - but have high hopes that this will be available and on the market for everyone within 5 years or less.
eggplant
(3,913 posts)but as a technologist, I have low expectations about the manufacturers actually worrying about security -- devices like this are generally very hackable, particularly wireless ones.
All things being equal, though, better blood chemistry management is a very welcome thing for those who need it. (I'm a "lucky" type 2, so this doesn't directly impact me.)
aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)but every step that makes life easier for diabetes sufferers is awesome.
Uncle Joe
(58,403 posts)Thanks for the thread, IDemo.