'Artificial pancreas' aids blood-glucose control in diabetics

The system uses a small subcutaneous patch to continuously monitor glucose levels, sending the results via radio frequency to a small computer that calculates the appropriate insulin dose, which is then delivered by a insulin pump.

‘The system has the potential to improve the safety and effectiveness of insulin delivery and may allow more flexible lifestyles in the future,’ said Dr Roman Hovorka of Cambridge University, who led the study.

He added that it could be particularly useful when worn at night, since this is the time when most patients experience potentially dangerous blood-sugar drops — or hypoglycemic events — which are also exacerbated by alcohol consumption.

The conventional approach to diabetes monitoring and treatment is based around finger-prick testing combined with daily insulin injections that are adjusted accordingly by the patient with help from health workers. 

In recent years, several technologies have started to come through to help patients better manage their condition around their daily activities.