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An artificial pancreas has proven “life-changing” for very young children with Type 1 diabetes, experts have said.
The device, created by scientists at the University of Cambridge, is more effective at managing blood sugar levels than current technology.
And according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the app-based technology also requires less input from parents.
The app was developed by Professor Roman Hovorka from the Wellcome-Medical Research Council Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge.
He said: “CamAPS FX makes predictions about what it thinks is likely to happen next based on past experience.
“It learns how much insulin the child needs per day and how this changes at different times of the day.
“It then uses this to adjust insulin levels to help achieve ideal blood sugar levels. Other than at mealtimes, it is fully automated, so parents do not need to continually monitor their child’s blood sugar levels.”
Managing Type 1 diabetes is challenging in very young children owing to variability in the levels of insulin required and how each child responds to treatment, as well as unpredictability around how much they eat and exercise.
Children are particularly at risk of dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) and high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia), which can both damage the body or even lead to death.
How does the new technology work?
This sensor-augmented pump therapy requires parents to review their child’s glucose levels using a monitor and then manually adjust the amount of insulin they need.
However, the app, combined with a glucose monitor and insulin pump, acts as an artificial pancreas, automatically adjusting the amount of insulin it delivers based on predicted or real-time glucose levels.
Her mum Sam says the…
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Source : skynews
