Artificial pancreas revolutionize the treatment of diabetes

Not all diabetics are insulin dependent, but a large part of them. This condition forces them to have to take insulin shots every day to control blood sugar levels. This is because the body of people with diabetes does not produce insulin or produces too little.
But the daily insulin injections may no longer be necessary due to the creation of Joan Taylor, a professor at De Montfort University in Leicester, England.

This is an artificial pancreas that would have the ability to release preloaded insulin when the body needs it. While the project is still in preclinical testing stage, it could represent one of the greatest advances in history in the treatment of diabetes.

The artificial pancreas would be implanted between the last rib and the hip of the patient and should be refilled with insulin every few weeks. The device is coated by a metallic shell and held in place by a gel barrier. When the body needs more insulin, due to presence of high blood sugar, artificial body gel softens allowing the release into the bloodstream of the right amount of this hormone to reduce glucose levels.

Taylor said: "I realized I could use some protein (not specified) to create a gel that could react to glucose. When exposed to body fluids surrounding the internal organs, the gel reacts according to the amount of glucose present. "

The next step of research will begin clinical trials, probably a few years, so that in 5 to 10 years, the artificial pancreas is available for people with diabetes. According to experts believe, this system would be costly to patients.