Teens diagnosed with type 1 diabetes may soon rejoice. An experiment involving artificial pancreas showed positive results.
A new small study found that artificial pancreas paired with a smartphone to monitor blood sugar and automatically deliver insulin on the teens' body is a great alternative to utilizing different products separately. The study came into its conclusion by testing the artificial pancreas on 12 teens with type 1 diabetes.
With artificial pancreas, the teens experienced lower average blood sugar levels. They used to have blood sugar levels of 10.0 mmol/L, but with the artificial pancreas, their sugar levels dropped to 8.7 mmol/liter.
Lead researcher Dr. Roman Hovorka assured that in the near future, the same experiment will not be confined to the teens anymore.
"Home testing in very young children and elderly will follow," Hovorka added by email via CNBC. "The application of the artificial pancreas is not limited by age but by the ability to use the insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor."
In a related news, CNBC reported that research into a possible cure for type 1 diabetes has taken a gigantic step forward, with the discovery of an implantable device. This device could protect implanted insulin-producing cells from being attacked by the immune system for as long as six months or half a year. If this works, insulin-producing cells within the person's body can do their job more effectively.
The findings comes from a study that built on a work by the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. B.D. Colen, Harvard Staff Writer, expressed how positive this new finding is.
"It is believed that if implanted beta cells could be shielded from immune attack, and would respond to the body's own signals for insulin, they would be likely to eliminate most, or even all, the complications of the disease, and would, in effect, serve as a cure," Colen added.
