Artificial pancreas technology ‘could be available by 2018’

A new study has indicated that artificial pancreas devices are likely to start becoming available by 2018.

These devices monitor blood glucose in patients with type 1 diabetes and then automatically adjusts levels of insulin entering the body, combining the function of insulin pumps and glucose meters in a single closed-loop system.

A paper published in the journal Diabetologia has indicated that artificial pancreases have shown good or better glucose control than existing technologies across various clinical studies, with a number of other trials ongoing.

Dr Roman Hovorka and Dr Hood Thabit of the University of Cambridge said: "Users have been positive about how use of an artificial pancreas gives them 'time off' or a 'holiday' from their diabetes management, since the system is managing their blood sugar effectively without the need for constant monitoring."

However, a number of challenges still need to be addressed, including the speed of action of the forms of insulin used, as well as the reliability, convenience and accuracy of glucose monitors.

Cybersecurity issues also need to be taken into account to protect the devices from hacking, the paper noted.