Artificial Pancreas may be available by 2018

Artificial pancreas – a device which monitors blood glucose in patients with diaberes and automatically adjusts levels of insulin entering the body – is likely to be available by 2018. Currently available insulin pumps deliver insulin to people with diabetes after taking readings from glucose meters, but these two components are separate. It is the joining together of both parts into a “closed loop” that makes an artificial pancreas, researchers said. “In trials, users have been positive about how use of an artificial pancreas gives them ‘time off’ or a ‘holiday’ from their diabetes management since the system is managing their blood sugar without constant monitoring,” said Roman Hovorka of the University of Cambridge.