The idea of an automated insulin pump has always been a dream of diabetics worldwide, and the invention of a new artificial pancreas could bring this idea a step closer to reality.
Artificial pancreas installed by Jothydev's. Credit: Jothydev's Diabetes & Research Centre
The artificial pancreas after it was installed into its first test patient. Credit: Jothydev's Diabetes & Research Centre
Developed by Kerala-based Jothydev's Diabetes and Research Centre (JDC), the artificial pancreas has entered its "fourth stage of testing", being successfully trialled on a human patient and could lead to insulin shots without the need for expensive or intrusive surgery that can be controlled via your smartphone.
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Codenamed the "780G", it can regulate hormone needs and can increase or decrease insulin dosage when based on glucose levels in the blood, which happens every five or so minutes independent of the user.
Should a dose be calculated incorrectly, the firm also claims it will monitor and administer a corrective dose should it be required.
"The results are amazing. In our first patient, the glucose is remaining within normal range consistently for more than 90% of the time. This is an incredible achievement”, said Dr Jothydev Kesavadev, the clinic's head and namesake, who led the team that administered the pancreas to its first patient.
Patients with uncontrolled diabetes can develop complications in the heart, kidney, eyes and nerves due to persistently high glucose or can even develop fatal conditions due to dangerously low glucose levels and keeping with level stable is key.
The volatility of glucose levels can lead to patients or their relatives continuing to worry endlessly about the wellbeing of the patient and tackling and automating glucose levels could make living with the disease far easier.
However, JDC states that not all diabetics will require modifications like the 780G. It will be primarily used in type 1 diabetics - which it estimates 75-80% of patients "could require". As many as 90% of diabetic women looking to have children and as few as 5% of type 2 diabetics may require the procedure.
Also, despite JDC warning that getting the artificial pancreas installed doesn't require surgery, the tech could still be prohibitively expensive for the time being. However, no information on a price range is currently available.
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The first trial was conducted on a 26-year old man who wished to remain anonymous. He said: “For several reasons, I haven’t slept peacefully for the last 16 years ever since my diagnosis of diabetes. The new automated insulin delivery device is giving me peaceful sleep and has completely transformed my life for good”.
The pump itself is also waterproof, which could reduce the need to remove it for bathing or make it less likely to perish in bad weather.
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