The artificial pancreas is very close

The artificial pancreas is very close
Project drivers have managed to assemble insulin pumps used by diabetics and models of continuous glucose monitoring

Research in diabetes treatment has been trying to achieve a system that imitates or acts as an artificial pancreas and, thus, reduce the numerous complications produced by this disease in insulin dependents."From the renal failure to blindness, cardiovascular disease and even death," said Aaron Kowalski, director of the Metabolic Control Program of the Foundation for Research in Youth Diabetes (JDRF), an organization that in 2006 launched the artificial PancreasProject.The goal is closer;Finally, the necessary pieces have been assembled: insulin pumps, used by thousands of diabetics and continuous glucose monitoring systems, of which there are already several models in the market, and that allow measuring blood sugar levelsconstantly.At the moment, only three patients are benefiting from this system in Spain.

An artificial pancreas, according to the United States Youth Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), must integrate two technologies: infuses or insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems;but also a mathematical model or algorithm that defines the amount of insulin that must be administered at all times to maintain glucose control.The system, which has developed Medtronic and is already approved in Spain, is not yet an artificial pancreas, but is quite approaching.And, although imperfect, the new device is a great advance, because, as Ángel Cabrera, president of the Federation of Spanish Diabetics (Fede), "provides a higher quality of life.""Not only does it warn us if we suffer hypoglycemia (low glucose level), but decides to stop managing insulin to avoid it, even if we are sleeping."

The device includes an insulin pump with continuous glucose monitoring (sensor and transmitter).The Pump, explains Francisco Javier Ampudia, of the University Clinical Hospital of Valencia, has been previously prepared to use the data provided by the sensor in order to automatically interrupt insulin administration.According to Ampudia, "it is the first step towards the artificial pancreas."

This system requires the intervention of the patient that proves its glucose levels and program the insulin pump to administer the appropriate amount, without it preventing you.And, explains Ampudia, if the data transmitted by the sensor shows that the patient has levels below his established limit, "the pump triggers an alarm to warn him; if he does not react, he suspends the administration of insulin for two hours, and warnsWith an emergency message on the screen, thus protecting the patient against very serious complications that cause high or low blood sugar levels. "According to Cabrera, the system is "very impertinent when notifying you."It is, to put it in some way, "like a mother, especially at night."

Hypoglycemia affects eight out of ten diabetics.Episodes are especially dangerous at night -also those of high glucose or hyperglycemia.This evil affects the ability of the brain to act correctly and can produce "confusion, disorientation, loss of consciousness, coma and even death."And it is frequent in children.50% of severe episodes in minors occur during the night, since it is more difficult to monitor glucose levels.

The traditional insulin bomb has a tank full ofinsulin and a chip that allows the user to control the amount supplied.The tank injects the drug by means of a plastic tube called "infusion equipment" that has a soft needle or cannula.This is introduced under the skin, usually in the abdomen.The efficacy of the pumps in glucose control was demonstrated in a study by the JDRF, and published in New England Journal of Medicine last year.But most are not automatic.Quality and amount of life.This refers to Cabrera to what the introduction of this new technology has meant in his daily work."It allows me greater autonomy," he says.If I neglect, "the system itself warns me and, if I do not act, he is responsible for intervening. It gives me peace of mind; I am not thinking about diabetes all day."

According to the Ministry of Health and ConsumerThree daily, and that have required frequent autojustes of the insulin dose, which prove an average frequency of four daily glymia self -controls during the two months prior to the adoption of the pump, among others.The administration, Cabrera denounces, thinks that it is a "luxury article", "but it is an additional cost of only 100 euros per month in the treatment and avoids complications that are eventually more burdensome."