England trials hybrid closed loop 'artificial pancreas’

Around 35 NHS diabetes centres across the country are piloting the artificial pancreas - a so-called hybrid closed loop system - with 875 adults and children benefiting for a year so far.

The hybrid closed loop technology continually monitors blood glucose and automatically adjusts the amount of insulin given through a pump.

It can eliminate finger prick tests and prevent hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemia attacks, which can lead to seizures, coma or even death for people with type 1 diabetes.

NHS experts want to discover whether the tech can help people with diabetes safely and effectively control their condition in real-world settings.

Type 1 diabetes is a serious condition where a person’s blood glucose (sugar) level is too high because the body cannot make insulin. This happens because the body attacks the cells in the pancreas that make the insulin. The NHS in England currently spends around £10bn a year on diabetes, which is around 10 per cent of its budget.