Bionic pancreas automatically controls insulin

摘要

Sensor, pump, action! An app linked to a glucose sensor and insulin pump can make life a lot easier for people with type 1 diabetes. 'The sense of potential freedom is amazing," says Juliet Hughes, mother of 8-year-old Felix, who took part in a trial to see if a bionic pancreas could free diabetics from the daily routine of monitoring and regulating their glucose levels (New England Journal of Medicine, doi.org/7s4). Type 1 diabetes is caused by destruction of beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin to control how much sugar circulates in the blood. When the pancreas is no longer in control, a person risks coma and death from plunging glucose levels.