Smartphone integrated artificial pancreas to alleviate diabetes

Smartphones are widely and vastly used by the scientists in the medical field nowadays as it carries out a lot of functions easily and securely. Scientists from Harvard John A Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) came up with an artificial pancreas system integrated with smartphones to continuously monitor glucose levels of diabetics and automatically deliver required doses of insulin to provide help to the diabetic patients.

Scientists used a novel artificial pancreas system for over 60,000 hours and 12-week clinic trial to some type-1 diabetic patients which proved out to be in success as the participants showed significant improvements into well-being. This system continuously monitored the glucose levels and delivered appropriate insulin doses to 30 patients who went on with their normal routine.

The results, published in Diabetes Care, revealed positive effects on two important indicators: decreased hemoglobinA1c (HbA1c) and reduced time spent in hypoglycemia. The trial was led by Frank Doyle and EyalDassau.

This system helps patients to look after their health by themselves. They can vigilantly monitor their glucose levels and administer proper amount of insulin doses either injecting needles or by infusion pump. The artificial pancreas is designed to mimic a healthy person’s glucose regulating function. The closed-loop system consists of an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor placed under the user’s skin.

The signals also regulate based on the meals, physical activity, stress, sleep and metabolism. All of this is being carried out by an advanced algorithm embedded in a bluetooth connected smartphone.

This phone based artificial pancreas system turned out to be a game changer for diabetic’s patients and doctors, as it allows the patients to look after their insulin level by themselves and save a lot of time too.

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