Diabetes UK reported today that scientists in Cambridge have shown that an ‘artificial pancreas’ can be used to regulate blood glucose in children with type 1 diabetes. A JDRF funded study found that combining a real-time sensor measuring glucose levels with a pump that delivers insulin can boost overnight blood glucose control.The new device is based on a standard insulin pump and a standard glucose monitoring system which have been turned into a “closed loop” system using a sophisticated algorithm.  The...

This morning I was feeling inspired by the interview I did with JDRF’s Aaron Kowalski about the Artificial Pancreas Project,  so I did a little google searching about artificial pancreases.  I was looking for recent news, but instead I came across this article from the New York Times, published on December 7, 1999 — just over 10 years ago. In 1999 I didn’t even have diabetes — I was a college junior, happily eating carbohydrates without fear. But people with Type 1 diabetes might have read this article and...

On January 13th, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation announced a non-exclusive partnership with Animas Corporation to develop an automated, partially closed-loop system to help control blood sugars — the first step toward a fully automated “artificial pancreas.” For anyone with Type 1 diabetes this was, of course, promising news — offering a tantalizing glimpse toward a future where a machine might actually be able to take care of diabetes for you. As part of the partnership, JDRF will contribute $8 million...

Today’s a big day for anyone with Type 1 diabetes: JDRF just announced a partnership with the Animas Corporation to develop what they’re calling a “First-Generation Automated System for Managing Type 1 Diabetes.” Translation? They’re trying to make the first-ever artificial pancreas. Very, very exciting. To quote from the JDRF press release: The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation today announced an innovative partnership with Animas Corporation to develop an automated system to help people with type...

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation announced it had teamed up Animas Corporation to develop an automated system to help people with type 1 diabetes better control their disease – the first step on the path to what would be among the most revolutionary advancements in treating type 1 diabetes: the development of an artificial pancreas, a fully automated system to dispense insulin to patients based on real-time changes in blood sugar levels. Animas, a Johnson & Johnson company, is a leading manufacturer and distributor...

According to a report in SmartPlanet.com insulin injections may soon be replaced by tiny capsules.  Professor of bioengineering at UCSF, Tejal Desai, has developed a capsule which contains millions of pancreatic cells that secrete insulin. This capsule could be implanted into the body, creating an artificial pancreas. When blood sugar flows inside the capsule, it stimulates the cells to produce insulin to control sugar levels.