Will 2017 Bring Us the First Artificial Pancreas for Type 1 Diabetes?

Diabetes in Control is an online website that discusses the new up incoming research, diseases, and technology of the diabetic world. In the article I researched from July 16, 2016, it discussed the possibility of the invention of the first artificial pancreas for people suffering with type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a disease that makes a person body not be able to process glucose, insulin and other forms of sugars properly. This leads to hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia which means high or low levels of sugar within the blood.

Over the time it has been being studied 18 tests were performed to give the people an estimate of what works. Patients ages 18 to 21 who have had type 1 diabetes for at least a year were brought in to trial this technology for six months. Measurements were made every 30 minutes to see blood glucose concentrations. One to two days prior the the people were asked to fast from ten p.m. the previous day for testing. The patients were required to not be given insulin the next day unless the had a level of 70mg/dL and were hypoglycemic. This test was to trail the product to normalize the person's glucose level and bring them to the state of euglycemia with a 110 over 30 mg/dL. This test overall balanced the glycemic levels and helped to prevent or in most minimize hypoglycemia. This improved their glucose levels and in a pattern normalize it to an average 250 mg/dL.

The study of the artificial pancreas is an enormous step in the way of helping to improve and prolong the life of a someone living with type 1 diabetes. Throughout 2016 there were many trials that were undergoing testing for this new technology. The goal of the product was to create an artificial system that would work as a replacement pancreas. Many factors were being worked on to improve this device. Some of which included a blood glucose monitor that can connect to your smartphone to help detection of high or low blood sugar levels. This is something that could help to configure a way to improve the way a diabetics lives. Giving them their blood glucose levels in seconds without all of the horrible needle poking and expensive machines. This is something that will work be the means of subcutaneous glucose monitoring. Another major thing is this would include an insulin pump. The insulin pump is used to make an accurate estimate of when the body needs a pump of insulin. Though there are pumps like this already made in the world, this would be a great additive to make the item more beneficial. Living with a family that has diabetes is very difficult. Not everyone has the ability to regulate their sugars. This discovery would make many lives better. The quality of life would be assumed to go up by a substantial amount.

The people who live with type 1 diabetes will have a full benefit from this advancement. This could give the quality of life back to many people. This meaning a fuller life with more potential and ability. The information provided would give hope to many American people living with this disease. In the article it talked about the fact that the people who were trialing had a better input of meal size. Something that can be harder for a diabetic. Portion control and input of sugar and other material can weigh heavy on people. There are two different types of the machines that are being trailed at the moment. The first of which will be a full automatic machine. This means there will be little input needed by the person with the device. The second device that is being made is a system that has an activity level with the user. Giving the user more control of what they need and where they think their levels should be at. Helpful and security are some words I would use to describe this up and coming technology.

The artificial pancreas will overall have a huge impact on our constantly changing health care system. Every day new advances are made and in my opinion there is nothing better than adding another. This might be one of the top advances due to the constant rate of growth in type 1 diabetes in America. This study in the end is something that can help balance the problems that people with type 1 diabetes face every day. The production assistant’s at Diabetes in control said, “The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that a fully automated AP device, connected to MPS with personalized safety component is capable of controlling glycemia by delivering insulin without postprandial hypoglycemia. However future studies to design AP so it follows a top –down approach that addresses control challenges like issues with CGM accuracy to overcome insulin kinetics and control for physical activity needs to be addressed.” This technological device is a great step in the way of helping to maintain normal glycemic levels. The artificial pancreas when profected has the ability to be a life changing device.

Follow this link to do your own research: URL:http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/will-2017-bring-us-the-first-artificial-pancreas-for-type-1-diabetes/