9 year old boy with type 1 diabetes receives artificial pancreas – Diabetes.co.uk

A young boy with type 1 diabetes has been fitted with an artificial pancreas that automatically regulates his blood sugar levels.
Sam, who is 9 and from Worcester, has been wearing the artificial pancreas device, which determines when blood sugar levels are low, for two years now.
Despite worries about restricted availability, a similar device is likely to be put out on the NHS.
Sam’s father, Tom Collins, said it was critical that money be distributed to all people with type 1 diabetes who need it.
In the United Kingdom, over 400,000 individuals have type 1 diabetes, including approximately 29,000 children.
As people with type 1 diabetes have a pancreas that produces no or very little insulin, they must regularly check blood sugar levels and take insulin via injection or an insulin pump daily.
Only people who are unable to regulate their blood sugar should be prescribed the device, according to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence.
The artificial pancreas device performs the monitoring of blood glucose levels and release of insulin automatically, almost identically to the function of a pancreas. However it still requires information on food consumption to function correctly.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Collins, who is also the Labour Party’s parliamentary candidate in Worcester, called the new approach “life-changing” for those with type 1 diabetes.
“I’m really excited it could be made available to people in the future, because it’s so transformative to your quality of life” said Mr Collins.
18th January 2023
17th January 2023
17th January 2023
NHS approved education and behaviour change app for people with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, obesity. Proven in 7 studies.
Find support, ask questions and share your experiences.
The Hypo Program is the world’s first and only structured education program.
Join the community (and remove ads)
Find support, ask questions and share your experiences with 350,000+ members of the diabetes community
👋 JOIN FREE
Content on Diabetes.co.uk does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
© 2003 – 2022 Diabetes.co.uk – the global diabetes community. A DDM solution.

source