Artificial pancreas effectively controls type 1 diabetes in children age 6 and up
Reporter: Irina Robu, PhD
A new trial funded by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institute of Health created a clinical trial at four pediatric diabetes centers in the US of a new artificial pancreas system, which monitors and regulates blood glucose levels automatically. The artificial pancreas technology, the Control-IQ system has an insulin pump programmed with advanced control algorithms based on a mathematical model using the person’s glucose monitoring information to automatically adjust the insulin dose, and it was originally developed at University of Virginia (UVA), Charlottesville with funding support from NIDDK.
The artificial pancreas closed-loop control is all in one diabetes management system which monitors and tracks blood glucose levels using a continuous glucose monitor and at the same time delivers the insulin when needed via an insulin pump. The system is not only useful in children age 6 and up, but it also replaces reliance on testing by fingerstick or delivering insulin via injection multiple times a day.
The study contains 101 children between ages of 6 and 13 and the children are assigned either to the control or experimental group. The control group uses a standard injection method and separate insulin pump and the experimental uses the artificial pancreas system. Data was conducted every week for four months, while the participants continue on daily lives.
The results of the study showed that using an artificial pancreas system has a 7% improvement in keeping blood glucose in range during the daytime, and a 26% improvement in nighttime control compared to the control group. However, night time control group is important in people with type 1 diabetes, since unchecked hypoglycemia can lead to seizure, coma or even death. The artificial pancreas system shows about 11 % improvement to the standard method and it shows that the improvement in blood glucose control is impressive and safer for kids. No severe case of hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis occurred during the study, only some minor issues with the equipment.
After the clinical trial and based on the data received, Tandem Diabetes Care has received clearance from the U.S. FDA for use of the Control-IQ system in children as young as age 6 years.
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