Artificial pancreas successfully tested in patients with type 2 diabetes

Scientists at the University of Cambridge in Britain have successfully tested one artificial pancreas intended for use by patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The device, which is based on a special algorithm, doubled – compared to the usual treatment – the time that the patients’ sugar remains within the desired limits, while correspondingly halving the time that the patients experience high sugar (glucose) levels. .

About 415 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with type 2 diabetes, with medical costs estimated at $760 billion annually.

In type 2 diabetes the levels of glucose – the sugar in the blood – become very high.

Under normal conditions, the levels are controlled by the hormone insulin, but the production of this is disrupted in diabetics, resulting in their glucose rising beyond normal.

Over time, this can cause serious problems with the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, etc.

The condition is usually treated with a combination of lifestyle changes (healthier diet, more exercise) and blood sugar-lowering drugs.

As an alternative solution, the artificial pancreas has been developed, which combines an insulin pump with a special application with an algorithm, which calculates each time how much insulin should be automatically administered by the device, in order to find the sugar within normal levels.

To date, this device has been tested in patients with type 1 diabetes and only in patients with severe type 2 diabetes requiring hemodialysis.

Now for the first time it has been tested in a wider population of patients with type 2 diabetes without the need for hemodialysis.

His researchers Cambridge Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Sciencewho made the relevant publication in the medical journal “Nature Medicine”tested the artificial pancreas on 26 patients who were randomly divided into two groups: one tried the device for two months and then did the usual treatment, while the second (control group) first did the usual treatment and then used the artificial pancreas to two months.

It found that on average, patients with the artificial pancreas were within their target glucose level 66% of the time, compared to only 32% of the control group. Also, members of the second group had high sugar levels 67% of the time versus 33% of the artificial pancreas group.

Even the use of the device reduced the levels of glycated hemoglobin (to 7.3% vs. 8.7% of the control group). The higher the level of the latter, the higher the risk for a diabetic to develop complications.

Finally, no users of the artificial pancreas developed hypoglycemia, or dangerously low blood sugar levels.

“Many people with type 2 diabetes struggle to control their blood sugar levels using currently available treatments, such as insulin injections.

The artificial pancreas can be a safe and effective solution to help them.

The technology is simple to use and can be safely applied at home,” said lead researcher Dr Charlotte Bouton.

The participants in the clinical trial themselves said they were happy that it was possible for their sugar levels to be controlled completely automatically by the new system, freeing them from the need for insulin injections, pricking their finger, constant worry about monitoring their sugar, etc. .

The researchers are now planning a much larger multicenter study that will confirm their initial positive results and will then apply to regulatory authorities for marketing authorization for the device so that it can be made commercially available.

RES-EMP

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