LONDON: The National Health Service (NHS) in England is set to offer a new technology, dubbed an artificial pancreas, to tens of thousands of people with type 1 diabetes, aiming to revolutionize the management of the condition.
The system, known as a hybrid closed loop system, utilizes a glucose sensor under the skin to automatically calculate and deliver insulin via a pump. Starting later this month, the NHS will begin contacting adults and children who could benefit from this technology.
While the new system promises significant improvements in quality of life and a reduction in long-term health complications, NHS bosses caution that it could take up to five years before everyone eligible has access to it due to challenges in sourcing enough devices and the need to train more staff in its usage.
Trials of the technology have shown promising results, with enhanced blood sugar control and a reduced risk of life-threatening low or high blood glucose levels, which can lead to severe complications and even fatalities.
Gemma Lavery, who participated in an NHS pilot scheme using the device, described how it transformed her life, eliminating concerns about work-related stress affecting her blood-glucose levels and providing stability in managing her diabetes.
The rollout of this technology marks a significant advancement in diabetes care, with NHS national specialty advisor Prof Partha Kar hailing it as “great news for everyone with type 1 diabetes.” NHS England diabetes clinical director Dr. Clare Hambling emphasized its potential to redefine the lives of people with type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes UK chief executive Colette Marshall expressed excitement about the technology’s rollout, calling it a “landmark moment” in diabetes management.
The move follows approval from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) last December, with the NHS outlining a five-year plan to provide the technology to eligible persons, including children and under-18s, pregnant women, and those with certain HbA1c readings.
