A clinical study of an artificial pancreas produced remarkable results that researchers say could revolutionize the way Type 1 diabetics control their disease.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System tested a computerized, under-the-skin system that controlled overnight glucose levels and reduced hypoglycemia levels five-fold. Low blood sugar levels cause hypoglycemia, which can cause coma, seizures and even death.
“These are the first substantial results from our ongoing clinical studies, and they are very encouraging,” said lead investigator Boris Kovatchev, associate professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences in the university School of Medicine.
The new system has been tested on 20 people with Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes. Each patient was admitted to the hospital twice for 24 hours each time. All patients had identical eating, sleeping, and exercising activity during the admissions.
During the first hospital session, patients controlled their blood sugar levels during “open-looped” (insulin administered by injections) sessions.
During the second admission, each patient’s personal medical data gained from the first hospital visit was programmed into the “closed-looped” computerized “pancreas,” and the machine measured blood levels and automatically dispensed the needed dose of insulin. Results were compared to determine the difference in glucose control.
“Our goal was to control post-dinner blood glucose levels to a steady normal state by 11 p.m., achieve tight overnight control without hypoglycemia, and then control the rise of blood glucose after a 50-gram carbohydrate load breakfast in the morning,” Kovatchev said. “What we found with the system was an overall decrease from 23 episodes of hypoglycemia during the open-loop sessions to five during the closed-loop control.” In addition, almost 100 percent of overnight data from the closed-loop sessions were within the target range for glucose readings.
“This artificial pancreas could one day greatly improve the current methods of self-treatment for Type 1 diabetes,” Kovatchev said. “Instead of a patient having to measure his or her blood sugar with a glucose meter several times a day and self-administer insulin injections, this system would continuously regulate the patient’s blood glucose, much like the way a non-diabetic’s pancreas functions.”
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