Katharina Buczek
In the past, the research team already proved that an artificial pancreas powered by a similar algorithm was successful in helping patients manage type 1 diabetes.
They also trialed the device successfully among type 2 diabetes patients who required kidney dialysis.
Most recently, though, the researchers reported their first trial of the artificial pancreas among a much wider population of patients who live with type 2 diabetes.
And unlike the device that was used for testing among type 1 diabetes patients, this newer version is a fully closed system.
In other words, patients previously had to inform the device that they were about to eat in order to allow for an insulin adjustment. With this new version, though, the device is able to function completely automatically.
For the study, the researchers gathered 26 patients who were randomly divided into two groups. The first group trialed the artificial pancreas for eight weeks before switching back to standard therapy– which is multiple insulin injections daily.
Conversely, the second group underwent the control therapy for eight weeks first before switching over to the artificial pancreas.
Various measures were assessed to gauge the effectiveness of the device. Primarily, the rate of time that patients spent within target glucose levels– or between 3.9 and 10.0 mmol/L– was measured.
While using the control therapy, patients spent 32% of their time within the target range. But with the artificial pancreas, patients spent two-thirds, or 66%, of their time on target.
Time spent with high glucose levels– above 10.0 mmol/L– was also measured. And it was found that patients using the control therapy spent 67% of their time experiencing high glucose levels. On the flip side, patients using the artificial pancreas halved their rates of high glucose levels to 33%.
Additionally, no patients suffered dangerously low blood sugar levels– also known as hypoglycemia– while participating in the study.
