A PDA replacement of the pancreas

The project called 'tele-Artificial Pancreas' investigates the possibility of achieving metabolic control in diabetic patients at any time and place, as presented at the symposium 'New Technologies, Communication and Diabetes', organized by the Foundation for Diabetes. As explained by the experts who participated in the meeting, tele-artificial pancreas is the most advanced technology for the control of diabetes. Through a personal assistant (PDA) which is available to the patient, a glucose sensor that continuously measures blood sugar level passes the information to an infusion pump insulin continuously, in real time automatically programmed with algorithms, answers depending on glucose levels detected by the sensor.

The foundation's executive director, Maria del Carmen Marín, noted that "without doubt, know the latest advances and research in technological solutions, such as tele-artificial pancreas, which provide the one hand, better quality of life for the person with diabetes and another, better control, and therefore less likely to develop other diseases, are of great interest. "

Although the ultimate aim of the research is to replace the functions of measurement and control deteriorated in the pancreas of a person with diabetes, there are currently a number of scientific-technological challenges to achieve an artificial pancreas for non-hospital use, among which adjust the algorithms to cope with the increases of glucose derived from food intake and delays to the extent of absorption of glucose and insulin, as indicated by the specialists.

Therefore, experts are currently working on moving to a semi-automatic control, so called because the control algorithms do not work automatically but use information from ingestions of the patient in a process carried out under medical supervision, thanks to telemedicine and Thus, little by little, progress in the "tele-artificial pancreas.

Glucose sensors

Other challenges are the achievement of continuous glucose sensors for improved reliability and usability, automatic programming of the insulin pump or the demonstration of the use of certain control algorithms that can run on an outpatient basis. During this symposium also addressed the presence of diabetes on the Internet and forums were highlighted as a possible substitute "virtual" self-help groups, as the anonymity provided by the network allows greater freedom to express feelings.

Finally, the symposium was also presented 'Carol has diabetes', an educational project that aims to inform teachers and classmates of children with diabetes in primary education about the disease and its treatment, and thereby encourage the full integration of children at school.

This initiative of the Diabetes Foundation, whose main character is based on a real life girl with diabetes, consists of various educational materials, among which an animated movie, and flashcards. All this, in language that fits the chronological age of children in the classroom where it will develop, using as reference the cycles in which primary education is divided in Spain.

Fuente de la noticia

Hoy Tecnología, 29 October 2009.
Link to the news.
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