Denver researchers are reporting a breakthrough in developing an artificial pancreas as a treatment for diabetes and other conditions.

The approach combines the use of a mechanical artificial pancreas with transplantation of islet cells, which produce insulin, according to a small study, published in the American Journal of Transplantation.

Lead researcher Dr. Gregory Forlenza, with the University of Colorado-Denver, said the study involved 14 patients with pancreatitis who underwent standard surgery and auto-islet transplantation treatments and used a closed-loop insulin pump.

The pump automatically tracks blood sugar and was found to be better than multiple daily insulin injections at maintaining normal blood glucose levels in diabetics, Dr. Forlenza said.
"Use of the mechanical artificial pancreas in patients after islet transplantation may help the transplanted cells to survive longer and produce more insulin for longer," he added.

"It is our hope that combining these technologies will aid a wide spectrum of patients, including patients with diabetes, in the future."