Artificial pancreas significantly improve the condition of patients.
Researchers from a division of Harvard has successfully conducted another clinical trial of an artificial “pancreas” — insulin pump with a device implanted under the skin glucose sensor.
New software with feedback allowed us to adapt the Protocol of the insulin delivery and reduce periods of hypoglycemia in patients with type I diabetes. Tests showed that the device has a therapeutic effect after 12 weeks in patients decreased the level of hemoglobin glycerinogenes. Test results published in the journal Diabetes Care, and briefly about them, reports the website of the School of engineering and applied Sciences Harvard.
Type one diabetes — a disease in which disrupted the function of pancreatic cells that produce insulin — the hormone that regulates glucose levels in the blood. The result patients have to take insulin injections to avoid hyperglycemia.
Device that simulates the functions of the pancreas are considered as the most promising way to control the level of glucose in the blood of patients with diabetes. Last year Management on control over products and medicines USA (FDA) first approved the commercial application of such a device. Artificial “pancreas” is an insulin pump with a sensor that constantly measures the concentration of glucose in the blood. The supply of insulin is carried out continuously, but, as this body, the device responds to a critical decrease or increase in the level of glucose.
In the presented test, passed under the control of the FDA, the researchers tested the new software that automatically adjusts weekly Protocol of the insulin delivery depending on physiological parameters of the person who wears such a device. Due to this the patient can lead a normal life, while “organ” independently regulates the required amount of insulin depending on diet, physical activity and health without medical intervention.
In the study, which lasted 12 weeks, involved 30 people with type I diabetes aged from 21 to 65 years. At the beginning and at the end of the study, participants were measured blood levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), which reflects a permanent excess sugar. By the end of the test, this figure dropped by 0.3 points, from 7 to 6.7 percent of the total amount of hemoglobin.
One of the problems with artificial insulin is too strong fall of the concentration of glucose in the blood (hypoglycemia) after administration of the next dose. The new Protocol compared to the standard allowed virtually eliminate the problem of hypoglycemia. The time when glucose levels fall below a critical value, does not exceed one or two percent of the total time of monitoring.
Clinical trials groups at Harvard are among the many tests of such devices. They mainly relate to the use of new control algorithms, which must achieve the maximum level of correlation between the level of blood glucose and delivery of insulin, as well as to simplify life with diabetes.
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