Thousands of people with type 1 diabetes are set to be offered new artificial-pancreas technology on the NHS to help them manage the condition. We have broken down everything you need to know, as well as who will be eligible for the new technology.
What is an artificial pancreas?
This new technology calculates how much insulin is delivered via a pump using a glucose sensor under the skin. The NHS staff will look at the UK’s population who suffer from type 1 diabetes and will use this information to calculate who will benefit from this new technology. However, they warned that before anyone has the opportunity to have one, it could take 5 years to test and manufacture the products. They also need to train staff on how to use them and they may face challenges sourcing enough of them.
All about diabetes
In the UK there are a whopping 300,000 people including 29,000 children who suffer from type 1 diabetes. An important hormone that turns food into energy is called insulin and the pancreas fails to produce this. To combat this problem they have to inject or pump themselves every day with insulin and they have to closely monitor their levels of sugar and glucose in their blood.
The new technology
The new technology still requires information on food intake to be inputted at meal times to work accurately, however, it automatically pumps insulin into their bodies and virtually mimics the function of a pancreas. This technology should prevent unconsciousness and fatal circumstances by preventing people with type 1 diabetes from experiencing life-threatening low or high blood/glucose levels. This will also decrease the chances of them getting heart disease, eyesight problems, and kidney disease.
Real-life case study of the product
After using the device due to being part of the NHS pilot scheme, Gemma Lavery who is 38 from Plymouth, says it has transformed her life for the better. She claims ‘before it becomes a problem the close loop helps sort it out and I no longer have to worry about work-related stress affecting my blood glucose levels. ‘My diabetes is more stable without hindering my morning routine I can have a full night’s sleep without worrying about regular low glucose levels.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that causes someone’s blood sugar levels to be too high. Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells do not react to the insulin properly.
What causes diabetes?
Living with obesity can increase the chances of developing diabetes or your waist measurements are unhealthy for your gender or ethnicity. Also if there is too much fat stored in or around your liver or pancreas. Foods that can cause this are sugary drinks, white bread, red/processed meats, and salt, particularly in processed foods.
Symptoms of diabetes
Some symptoms include increased thirst as an early indicator, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurry vision, numbness or tingling, and sores that don’t heal.
