A device that uses a modified iPhone to help regulate the blood sugar of people with type 1 diabetes appears to work better than an insulin pump, researchers say.
The so-called "bionic pancreas" is the latest in the search to improve the lives of people who have type 1 diabetes, which means their bodies do not produce insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
Three million people in the United States have type 1 diabetes, which is far less common than type 2 diabetes. It is commonly known as juvenile diabetes because it tends to appear in children and young adults.
People with type 1 diabetes must prick themselves for blood samples multiple times daily in order to monitor their glucose levels, and then either inject insulin or receive it from a pump.
The new method involved an iPhone 4S, which ran a control algorithm for insulin and glucagon, combined with a tiny needle that is inserted under the skin to monitor real-time glucose levels.
A total of 52 adults and youths tried the combination for five days.
The patients using the bionic pancreas had fewer interventions for low blood sugar and showed "significant improvements" in overnight blood glucose levels over what they experienced normally, said the researchers.
"The bionic pancreas system reduced the average blood glucose to levels that have been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of diabetic complications," said researcher Steven Russell, assistant professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.
"This is tremendously difficult with currently available technology."
More research is needed before the device can be made available for sale, the authors said.
The findings were published Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Wed Jun 18 2014
A new method of treating diabetes involved an iPhone 4S, combined with a tiny needle that is inserted under the skin to monitor real-time glucose levels. -AFP Photo
JPJ laksana operasi, kesan syarikat, individu, sewakan kenderaan kepada warga asing tanpa lesen
Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) akan melaksanakan operasi mengesan syarikat dan pemilik kenderaan yang menyewakan kenderaan mereka kepada warga asing yang tidak mempunyai lesen memandu sah serta insu
Suri rumah rugi lebih RM15,000 terperdaya tawaran kerja 'review' hotel
Seorang suri rumah di sini kerugian RM15,850 selepas terperdaya dengan iklan tawaran kerja 'review' hotel daripada sebuah syarikat yang menjanjikan komisen tinggi.
Isu All Eyes on Rafah: 'Janganlah tutup periuk nasi saya' - Ning Baizura
Ning turut menegaskan dirinya antara selebriti yang aktif menyalurkan sumbangan untuk Gaza dan bersolidariti untuk Palestin.
Dua lelaki bawa parang ditahan cuba ceroboh Istana Negara
Dua lelaki warga tempatan ditahan kerana disyaki terlibat kes cubaan menceroboh Istana Negara, semalam.
Serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram: 46 individu selesai diambil keterangan
Seramai 46 individu sudah diambil keterangan bagi membantu siasatan kes serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram, pada pagi Sabtu.
Raja Permaisuri Agong beri penghormatan terakhir kepada anggota polis terkorban
Raja Zarith Sofiah berkenan berangkat ke Masjid Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Johor bagi memberi penghormatan terakhir buat dua anggota polis yang terkorban.
4 nelayan Indonesia ditemui hanyut selepas bot karam dilanggar kapal kargo
Menurut Pengarah Maritim Negeri Perak, Kepten Maritim Mohamad Shukri Khotob, seorang lagi mangsa masih hilang dalam kejadian yang dipercayai berlaku pada Khamis itu.
Seorang maut, lapan cedera serangan udara Israel di Kem Pelarian Jenin
Seorang penduduk Palestin terbunuh manakala lapan lagi cedera dalam serangan udara Israel ke atas kem pelarian Jenin di Tebing Barat yang diduduki pada Jumaat.
Uzbekistan mahu kerjasama dengan JAKIM dalam piawaian halal
Uzbekistan menyuarakan hasrat untuk bekerjasama dengan Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) bagi memastikan piawaian halal di negara itu mencapai ke tahap yang sama seperti dilaksanakan oleh JAKIM, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Gaza sudah 10 hari tidak terima bekalan perubatan
Tiada bekalan perubatan diterima di Semenanjung Gaza selama 10 hari ketika Israel meneruskan serangan ganas ke atas wilayah terkepung itu.