̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - artificial pancreas

US Food and Drug Administration approves Cambridge-developed artificial pancreas

cjb250 — Fri, 24 May 2024 12:39:44 +0000

This means that even more people living with the disease will be able to use this life-changing app. For the first time, the FDA authorised the use of the artificial pancreas system in pregnancy.

CamAPS FX, produced by Cambridge spinout company CamDiab (www.camdiab.com), is an Android app that can be used to help manage glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes, including during pregnancy.

̽��ֱ��app allows a compatible insulin pump and a compatible continuous glucose monitor to ‘talk to each other’, creating an artificial pancreas.

̽��ֱ��CamAPS FX closed loop algorithm was given FDA authorisation on Thursday 23 May. It had already been CE-marked for use in the UK and the EU.

CamAPS FX creator Roman Hovorka is Professor of Metabolic Technology at the Institute of Metabolic Science and Department of Paediatrics at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, where the technology was developed.

He said: "We set out to help people with type 1 diabetes and their families live better lives and we’re delighted that the FDA has reviewed the safety and effectiveness of CamAPS FX and has given the technology its approval."

"It has been extensively tested and we’re proud that it is considered by many to be the best algorithm out there."

CamAPS FX is already used by more than 27,000 people in 15 countries across Europe and Australia. Artificial pancreas systems such as CamAPS FX have been granted approval for wide use by the NHS in November 2023 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

“Incredible” diabetes management app now recommended by NICE

cg605 — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:22:48 +0000

̽��ֱ��National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has today (7 November 2023) recommended hybrid closed loop systems including the CamAPS FX app for use in managing type 1 diabetes, meaning that even more people living with the disease will be able to use this life-changing app.

Artificial pancreas trial in young children with diabetes receives €4.6millon grant from European Commission

sjr81 — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:55:21 +0000

Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children; around one in 4,000 children under 14 years of age is diagnosed with the disease each year in the UK. ̽��ֱ��disease causes the pancreas to stop producing sufficient insulin to regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels, and poor glucose control can lead to complications including eye, heart and kidney disease. Episodes of very low glucose levels can cause serious complications and may be life threatening.

People affected by the condition have to manage their condition through long term treatment. This usually involves regular insulin injections – in some cases, several times a day. However, a team at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and Cambridge ̽��ֱ�� Hospitals hopes to replace these treatments with an artificial pancreas, a small, portable medical device designed to carry out the function of a healthy pancreas in controlling blood glucose levels, using digital technology to automate insulin delivery. ̽��ֱ��system is worn externally on the body, and is made up of three functional components: continuous glucose monitoring, a computer algorithm to calculate the insulin dose, and an insulin pump.

̽��ֱ��artificial pancreas promises to transform management of type 1 diabetes. Several trials have already shown that it is effective for use both school children and adults in the home environment, and last year saw the first natural birth to a mother fitted with an artificial pancreas. However, there has as yet been no research into its use by young children at home.

Now, KidsAP, a collaboration led the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and involving institutes across Europe and in the US, has received a €4.6millon under the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme to carry out a trial of the artificial pancreas among children aged one to seven years with type 1 diabetes. Cambridge has received a €1.6m share of the grant to act as coordinator of the project.

“We’ve already seen that the artificial pancreas can have a very positive effect on people’s lives and now, thanks to funding from the European Commission, we can see whether young children will also see these same benefits,” said Dr Roman Hovorka from the Department of Paediatrics at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, who is leading the project. “At the moment, children have to have frequent insulin injections that are at best inconvenient, but at worst painful. We hope this new technology will eliminate this need.”

An initial pilot of 24 children, the main study will split 94 children into two groups: one will be treated over a year by the artificial pancreas and the other half by state-of-the-art insulin pump therapy, already used by some adults and teenagers. ̽��ֱ��researchers will measure quality of life and investigate the impact of the two approaches on the children’s daily life, as well as looking at which is the more effective, and cost-effective, approach.

“If the artificial pancreas is shown to be more beneficial than insulin pump therapy, then we expect that it will change how type 1 diabetes is managed both nationally and internationally, with a much improved quality of life for young children,” added Professor David Dunger, collaborator on the project.

An international trial to test whether an artificial pancreas can help young children manage their type 1 diabetes will begin next year, thanks to a major grant awarded by the European Commission.

We’ve already seen that the artificial pancreas can have a very positive effect on people’s lives and now, thanks to funding from the European Commission, we can see whether young children will also see these same benefits.

Roman Hovorka

Diabetes UK

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New study shows artificial pancreas works for length of entire school term

sc604 — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:45:00 +0000

An artificial pancreas given to children and adults with type 1 diabetes going about their daily lives has been proven to work for 12 weeks – meaning the technology, developed at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, can now offer a whole school term of extra freedom for children with the condition.

Artificial pancreas trials for people at home, work and school have previously been limited to short periods of time. But a study, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, saw the technology safely provide three whole months of use, bringing us closer to the day when the wearable, smartphone-like device can be made available to patients.

̽��ֱ��lives of the 400,000 UK people with type 1 diabetes currently involves a relentless balancing act of controlling their blood glucose levels by finger-prick blood tests and taking insulin via injections or a pump. But the artificial pancreas sees tight blood glucose control achieved automatically.

This latest Cambridge study showed the artificial pancreas significantly improved control of blood glucose levels among participants – lessening their risk of hypoglycaemia. Known as ‘having a hypo,’ hypoglycaemia is a drop in blood glucose levels that can be highly dangerous and is what people with type 1 diabetes hate most.

Susan Walls is mother to Daniel Walls, a 12-year-old with type 1 diabetes who has taken part in the trial. She said: “Daniel goes back to school this month after the summer holidays – so it’s a perfect time to hear this wonderful news that the artificial pancreas is proving reliable, offering a whole school term of support.

“ ̽��ֱ��artificial pancreas could change my son’s life, and the lives of so many others. Daniel has absolutely no hypoglycaemia awareness at night. His blood glucose levels could be very low and he wouldn’t wake up. ̽��ֱ��artificial pancreas could give me the peace of mind that I’ve been missing.”

“ ̽��ֱ��data clearly demonstrate the benefits of the artificial pancreas when used over several months,” said Dr Roman Hovorka, Director of Research at the ̽��ֱ��’s Metabolic Research Laboratories, who developed the artificial pancreas. “We have seen improved glucose control and reduced risk of unwanted low glucose levels.”

̽��ֱ��Cambridge study is being funded by JDRF, the type 1 diabetes charity. Karen Addington, Chief Executive of JDRF, said: “JDRF launched its goal of perfecting the artificial pancreas in 2006. These results today show that we are thrillingly close to what will be a breakthrough in medical science.”

Reference:
Thabit, Hood et al. ‘Free-living Home Use of an Artificial Beta Cell in Type 1 Diabetes.’ New England Journal of Medicine (2015). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1509351

Adapted from a JDRF press release.

Technology assisting people with type 1 diabetes edges closer to perfection.

̽��ֱ��data clearly demonstrate the benefits of the artificial pancreas when used over several months

Roman Hovorka

Study participant Daniel Walls, 12

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World first for artificial pancreas team

cjb250 — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 13:35:46 +0000

Body artist Catriona Finlayson-Wilkins from Norfolk has type 1 diabetes, but used an artificial pancreas to produce insulin throughout her pregnancy. She gave birth to a boy at Norfolk and Norwich ̽��ֱ�� Hospital on Tuesday. She is the first mother in the world to use the device to give birth outside the main research site at Cambridge ̽��ֱ�� Hospitals. Three mothers have previously given birth, but all via caesarian section.

Women who have diabetes in pregnancy face higher rates of birth defects, oversized babies, pre-term delivery and stillbirth than other pregnant women. It is estimated that up to one in twenty women giving birth in England and Wales have either pre-existing diabetes or gestational diabetes and the number with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is rising.

Body artist Catriona Finlayson-Wilkins

̽��ֱ��technology is being trialled by the Closed Loop in Pregnancy study, based at the Metabolic Research Laboratories at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge ̽��ֱ��pancreas is the organ which produces insulin, which is one of the main hormones that help to regulate blood glucose levels. In type 1 diabetes, the beta cells that produce insulin are attacked by the body's immune system so an artificial pancreas can help to maintain insulin production, keeping the symptoms of diabetes at bay.

̽��ֱ��artificial pancreas device system is a small, portable medical device that is being designed to carry out the function of a healthy pancreas in controlling blood glucose levels in women with Type 1 diabetes. It uses digital communication technology to automate insulin delivery. ̽��ֱ��system is worn externally on the body, and is made up of three functional components: continuous glucose monitoring, a computer algorithm (mathematical instructions which calculate the insulin dose), developed by Director of Research Dr Roman Hovorka, and an insulin pump. These three components are termed an artificial pancreas or ‘closed loop’.

Full results of the study are expected to be published later this year. If the findings are positive, this may pave the way for the technology to become available for more women with diabetes who conceive in the future.

Dr Helen Murphy, Senior Research Associate/Honorary Consultant Physician at the Metabolic Research Laboratories and the Principal Investigator of the study, says that the first natural birth using the technology represents an exciting step forward in the treatment of diabetes in pregnancy. " ̽��ֱ��artificial pancreas is an exciting new technology that may help us to treat diabetes in pregnancy and create a group of healthier mothers and babies.”

Dr Zoe Stewart, a Gates Cambridge Scholar and Clinical Research Fellow on the study, said: “Treating diabetes in pregnancy can be particularly challenging because hormone levels are constantly changing and blood sugars can be difficult to predict. I study new treatments for diabetes in pregnancy and it's great to see our research helping mums have healthier pregnancies.”

̽��ֱ��research has been supported by Gates Cambridge, Diabetes UK and the National Institute for Health Research.

̽��ֱ��first natural birth to a mother with diabetes who has been fitted with an artificial pancreas took place this week. ̽��ֱ��device has been developed by researchers at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge.

̽��ֱ��artificial pancreas is an exciting new technology that may help us to treat diabetes in pregnancy and create a group of healthier mothers and babies

Helen Murphy

Diabetes UK

Artificial pancreas

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Overnight home use of artificial pancreas ‘feasible and beneficial’

cjb250 — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 19:00:00 +0000

̽��ֱ��artificial pancreas promises to dramatically improve the quality of life for people with type 1 diabetes, which typically develops in childhood. All previous artificial pancreas trials, in hospitals and in home environments, have seen researchers strictly monitor patients. ̽��ֱ��latest trial, funded by JDRF, has shown for the first time that unsupervised use of the artificial pancreas overnight can be safe. ̽��ֱ��results of the trial are published today in the journal Diabetes Care.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the pancreas is unable to produce insulin, a hormone which regulates blood glucose levels. High levels of glucose can seriously damage the body's organs. People with type 1 diabetes currently rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day; a child diagnosed at the age of five faces up to 19,000 injections and 50,000 finger prick blood tests by the time they are 18.

Participants in the trial, all aged between 12 and 18, saw improved blood glucose control during the trial, experiencing fewer nights with hypoglycaemic episodes, generally known as ‘hypos’. A hypo occurs when the blood glucose level of someone living with type 1 diabetes falls dangerously low. Without proper treatment, it may cause unconsciousness and even death.

A real-time information haul of more than 10,000 UK residents with type 1 diabetes, released to JDRF from the mySugr app, suggests that UK people living with the condition experience an average of ten hypos per week.

Actor Jeremy Irvine, star of the Stephen Spielberg film War Horse, has lived with type 1 diabetes since the age of six. He said: “When the chance came for me to take part in early artificial pancreas trials a few years ago, I jumped at the opportunity. I wanted to play my own very small part in moving the artificial pancreas closer to reality. I’m really excited to hear of this latest progress – the scientists behind it are my heroes.”

Dr Roman Hovorka from the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, who is leading the UK effort to develop an effective artificial pancreas, said: “ ̽��ֱ��study is an important stepping stone for the wider use of an artificial pancreas. We have shown that overnight home use is feasible and beneficial – allowing people to live their life more freely.

“ ̽��ֱ��artificial pancreas is expected to transform the treatment of type 1 diabetes and we have proven that this promise holds. ̽��ֱ��success of this trial means that larger and longer studies are already in the pipeline.”

Katharine Barnard, from the Human Development and Health Academic Unit at the ̽��ֱ�� of Southampton, worked with Dr Hovorka on the trial to evaluate psychosocial impact. She said: “Hypoglycaemia – particularly at night – is a common fear among those living with type 1 diabetes and a major obstacle in achieving optimal blood glucose levels. ̽��ֱ��findings from this study are positive and are certainly worth investigating further.

“Reassurance, confidence and improved diabetes control are just some of the psychological and physical benefits that patients may witness as artificial pancreas technology continues to develop."

Children with type 1 diabetes have been able to use pioneering artificial pancreas technology, developed at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, for the first time overnight at home without the supervision of researchers.

̽��ֱ��artificial pancreas is expected to transform the treatment of type 1 diabetes and we have proven that this promise holds

Roman Hovorka

Alisha Vargas

Diabetes

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Artificial pancreas promise for common diabetes complication

gm349 — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:26:10 +0000

Hypoglycaemia (or a ‘hypo’) occurs when the level of glucose in the blood falls too low. If left untreated the person having a hypo can eventually become unconscious after experiencing warning signs as the body tries to raise the blood glucose level. These unpleasant signs often include feeling shaky, sweating, tingling in the lips, heart pounding, and irritability. In extreme cases hypoglycaemia can lead to coma and brain damage, and can sometimes prove fatal.

̽��ֱ��‘artificial pancreas’ or closed-loop insulin delivery system automatically manages a person’s diabetes. ̽��ֱ��device regulates blood glucose levels by releasing insulin when alerted to high levels of glucose, and withholding it when levels are low. Currently people with Type 1 diabetes have to either inject insulin several times a day or wear an insulin pump² which releases the hormone via a cannula inserted under the skin.

̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge researcher Dr Roman Hovorka led two studies to evaluate the performance of the artificial pancreas in 10 men and 14 women, aged 18 to 65, who had used an insulin pump for at least three months.

̽��ֱ��first study monitored 12 participants overnight after consuming a medium-sized meal (60 g carbohydrate) at 7pm. In the second study, the other 12 participants were monitored overnight after consuming a larger meal (100 g carbohydrate) accompanied by alcohol at 8.30pm.

̽��ֱ��studies showed a 22 per cent improvement in the time participants kept their blood glucose levels in a safe range, halving the time they spent with low blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of both short term and long term complications.

Dr Hovorka said: “Hypoglycaemia remains a major challenge, especially during the night, so it’s encouraging to see such promising results from our trial using commercially available devices.

“ ̽��ֱ��study is a stepping stone to testing the artificial pancreas at home and suggests that the artificial pancreas may be suitable in adults as well as in children and adolescents we found previously.”

Diabetes UK Director of Research Dr Iain Frame said: “Although early days, this exciting area of research is a fantastic example of how existing technologies, in this case, insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, can be adapted and developed. ̽��ֱ��improvements in glucose control overnight using this new technology are impressive and it is good to see this work develop with the addition of testing the effects following a meal with some wine.

“We now need to see an extension of this study, one which tests larger numbers of people, and then take it out of the hospital and in to the home setting.”

̽��ֱ��research was published in the British Medical Journal today, 15 April.

Cambridge research funded by the health charity Diabetes UK has for the first time successfully demonstrated the potential of an ‘artificial pancreas’ in preventing night-time hypoglycaemia in adults with Type 1 diabetes.

Hypoglycaemia remains a major challenge, especially during the night, so it’s encouraging to see such promising results from our trial using commercially available devices.

Dr Roman Hovorka

Diabetes UK

Artificial pancreas: 1. Glucose levels monitored continuously 2. Required insulin dose calculated 3. Insulin does delivered automatically

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