Type 1 diabetes, also know as juvenile diabetes, develops usually early in life. Unlike, type 2 diabetes it isn't caused by obesity. It is estimated that 3 million people have type 1 diabetes. Current treatments include a continuous glucose monitor and a preprogrammed insulin pump. The problem is that the two do not work together and often cause hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, especially overnight.
Hypoglycemia symptoms cause shakiness, dizziness, seizures, coma, and even death. Managing these levels is very important.
A British medical journal called The Lancet, published that based on recent findings they want the medical device companies to get started on new technology. These studies conclude that a novel computer algorithm can analyze and manage blood glucose levels. It automatically makes frequent adjustments of insulin based on the glucose readings. The two systems work together to eliminate overnight hypoglycemia 100 percent. With traditional treatments, children were shown to have frequent hypoglycemic episodes.
“This is an important step in diabetes control because it shows that, with this system, people can sleep safely with minimized risk of hypoglycemia,” said Dr. Eric Renard, a professor of diabetology at Montpellier University Hospital in Montpellier, France.
In the last decade, many breakthroughs in diabetes treatment and management have come about. A San Diego company, called Dexcom, makes a monitor that checks glucose. It is embeded under the skin. The division of Johnson & Johnson, Animas, makes an insulin pump that is programmable and the size of a cellular phone. It administers insulin through a tiny catheter.
These treatments may set off an alarm during the night that the glucose levels are low, but if the patient doesn't wake up the problem could get worse. The insulin pump would continuously administer insulin. European and U.S. researches are racing toward this automated system.
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