Positive results of an artificial pancreas based on a smartphone app

An artificial pancreas system badembled via a smartphone app is safe and works, according to the results of a clinical trial conducted in the United States.

Designed to match the functioning of a pancreas with the help of artificial technology, an artificial pancreas comes in different forms, but they all work by releasing insulin in response to fluctuations blood sugar.

In this study, researchers from Harvard University, the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute, and the Joslin Diabetes Center studied an artificial pancreas that operated using a smartphone-connected smartphone application for a monitor. continuous glucose and an insulin pump.

The trial allowed participants with type 1 diabetes to use two different types of therapy. One phase involved a week of using artificial pancreatic technology, which can automatically respond to rising or falling blood sugar levels. The other phase of the test included the use of two days of an increased sensor pump that provided real-time glucose levels but without automatic adjustment of the administration d & # 39; insulin.

The results of the clinical trial of this interoperable artificial pancreatic system (iAPS) show that it is safe and effective. The use of the artificial pancreas allowed to improve the time in the target glucose range (3.9-10 mmol / L or 70-180 mg / dL) compared to the increased pump phase per sensor . The researchers also reported a statistically significant reduction in time spent at hypoglycemia, less than 3.9 mmol / L (70 mg / dL).

The researchers concluded, "The iAPS system was safe and effective in regulating glucose levels under difficult conditions and was suitable for use in non-stressed environments."

The limitations of the study were that the trial was a small study of six participants and that the study period was short-lived. Scientists will continue to refine the systems and examine its performance in real-life scenarios, outside clinical trial conditions.

The study was funded by funding from the National Institutes of Health of the United States and was published by the journal Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.