Good news for Type-2 diabetic patients- Artificial pancrease may soon be an option

An artificial pancreas, also known as a closed-loop insulin delivery system, is a medical device that automatically delivers insulin to a person with diabetes based on their blood sugar levels. The device is made up of three main components: a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), an insulin pump, and a control algorithm that connects the two.

 

The CGM continuously measures the patient's blood sugar levels and sends that information to the control algorithm, which then calculates the appropriate insulin dose based on the patient's current blood sugar level and their insulin needs. The insulin pump then delivers the calculated dose of insulin to the patient.

 

The goal of an artificial pancreas is to improve blood sugar control and reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

 

There are two main types of artificial pancreas systems:

 

Open-loop systems: These systems are based on pre-programmed algorithms that deliver insulin according to set schedules or based on patient-entered information such as meal times and carbohydrate counts.

Closed-loop systems: These systems use real-time glucose measurements and sophisticated algorithms to adjust insulin delivery in real time.

Closed-loop systems are considered more advanced as they can respond to changes in the patient's blood sugar levels and adjust insulin delivery accordingly, thus providing more precise and effective control.

 

Artificial pancreas systems are still considered investigational and are not yet widely available for use. However, several companies and research groups are working on developing and testing these systems for use in patients with diabetes.

 

It should be noted that artificial pancreas is not a replacement for pancreas, it's just a way to control the insulin level using a device. Also, patients using these devices should still monitor their blood sugar levels regularly and work with their healthcare team to ensure the device is working properly and to make any necessary adjustments to their insulin regimen.

 

Overall, the development of artificial pancreas systems holds great promise for improving the management of diabetes and the quality of life for people living with the condition