Artificial pancreas trialled in type 2 diabetics

An artificial pancreas has been successfully trialled in patients with type 2 diabetes, a university said.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge developed the device which combines a glucose monitor and insulin pump with an app.

The app uses an algorithm that predicts how much insulin is required to keep glucose levels in the target range.

Average glucose levels fell while patients trialled the device, the university said.

The researchers have previously shown that an artificial pancreas run by a similar algorithm is effective for patients living with type 1 diabetes, where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin.

Dr Charlotte Boughton from the Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge, who co-led the study, said: "Many people with type 2 diabetes struggle to manage their blood sugar levels using the currently available treatments, such as insulin injections.

"The artificial pancreas can provide a safe and effective approach to help them, and the technology is simple to use and can be implemented safely at home."

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Source: BBC News, 19 January 2023

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