artificial pancreas

trekkie · **Posted:** April 14th, 2010, 3:37 pm

A test run of an "artificial pancreas" that monitors blood sugar and delivers both insulin and regulatory hormone called glucagon helped patients achieve near-normal blood sugar levels for more than 24 hours

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63D47V20100414

so the idea behind this is that it can help people with type one diabetes. if this actually becomes on the main market, it may mean that people would no longer need to buy testing supplies for diabetes nor have to keep taking shots before every meal.

if this can be mass produced it may actually save insurance money because the cost may be low enough that it may just copy a year supply of testing supplies and insulin.

Adbot · **Posted:** April 14th, 2010, 3:37 pm

dafin0 · **Posted:** April 16th, 2010, 12:54 am

I actually think it's a great thing for diabetes sufferers. It would erase the need for people to buy testing kits and needles. But, there are a couple of issues that weren't mentioned in the article. When the system is available to the public, how much would one of these things cost for people? Would the U.S. government start a rebate scheme for low income families, and how transportable is the system?

Cheers, daifn0 :lol:

Earth · **Posted:** April 16th, 2010, 3:51 pm

Well if Steve Jobs can make his iLiver, why can't they make an artificial pancreas?
But seriously, I hope they can perfect this so diabetes is no more. At least for people who can afford it

trekkie · **Posted:** April 16th, 2010, 5:13 pm

well remember supply and demand. the more people need it, the more the companies will have to produce to meet it. mass production = price goes way down.
with the obama reform, it may actually be covered under health insurance.
and if the price is low enough, it would actually pay for itself, rather than have the patient keep going back to get supplies and insulin shots etc

dafin0 · **Posted:** April 16th, 2010, 6:12 pm

Earth wrote:

Well if Steve Jobs can make his iLiver, why can't they make an artificial pancreas?
But seriously, I hope they can perfect this so diabetes is no more. At least for people who can afford it

Technology isn't that advanced to make something that will completely eradicate diabetes. Not all the time, but more times that none, diabetes is mostly found in overweight people, and by getting passed down in your family, makes the chances of being overweight greater. And for these people, simple things like eating food that is good for you and getting moderate exercise, along with testing glucose levels every day can help control diabetes.

They already have made 10 artifical pancreases. They've been tested in 10 consumers in a trial study. But before they can allow the public to use one, every glitch and bug found needs to be fixed.

Cheers, dafin0 :lol:

Earth · **Posted:** April 16th, 2010, 6:17 pm

dafin0 wrote:

Earth wrote:

Well if Steve Jobs can make his iLiver, why can't they make an artificial pancreas?
But seriously, I hope they can perfect this so diabetes is no more. At least for people who can afford it

Technology isn't that advanced to make something that will completely eradicate diabetes. Not all the time, but more times that none, diabetes is mostly found in overweight people, and by getting passed down in your family, makes the chances of being overweight greater. And for these people, simple things like eating food that is good for you and getting moderate exercise, along with testing glucose levels every day can help control diabetes.

Cheers, dafin0 :lol:

What I meant was it can fix it in that person so that it would be no more in that person.
Sorry :oops:

Adbot · **Posted:** April 16th, 2010, 6:17 pm