Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas stops all production of insulin, and it can be difficult to manage. Someone with this condition must monitor his or her blood glucose levels very often, usually by using a test strip that pricks the finger and draws a small amount of blood. Insulin injections must be administered at various points throughout the day. This process is an issue for individuals with busy lives, who may not have the time to constantly check their insulin levels, or could forget to administer a shot. It is particularly terrifying for parents to send their children to school or camp with Type 1 diabetes knowing that an injection could be missed. This is why companies are working on producing an artificial pancreas so those living with Type 1 diabetes can have more normal lives.
One of the main issues with living with Type 1 diabetes is that the amount of insulin an individual needs always changes. One moment can be completely different than the next, which means that he or she cannot just inject into him or herself a set amount of insulin at any given time. The artificial pancreas remedies this complication by delivering insulin shots catered to the body’s needs automatically, with no prompt from its carrier. It is held on the hip, with attachments on the stomach, and monitors blood glucose levels continuously.
Getting this device on the market for all with Type 1 diabetes would make strides in the medical community. Quality of live would be vastly improved for those living with this condition, and children with Type 1 diabetes would, overall, be more safe. Former stock trader Bryan Mazlish, husband and father to Type 1 diabetics, managed to construct an artificial pancreas in 2014 and, after the formation of Bigfoot Biomedical, has been doing trials on artificial pancreases to prepare them for widespread release.
Bigfoot Biomedical is not the only company working on the artificial pancreas. After word got out about Mazlish’s device, other companies began to ramp up their efforts to produce these insulin pumping devices. Academics from various universities are one example of this competition, as are hospitals specializing in diabetes treatment. This is unfortunate, as the artificial pancreas may be able to be put into widespread use more quickly if these people and companies just worked together.
Overall, the artificial pancreas signifies a change in how people with Type 1 diabetes will be treated in the future. Once tests and trials are done by various companies, these devices will be released in the market, leaving consumers to decide which one is best.
