Artificial Pancreas Helps Kids With Diabetes

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In type 1 diabetes, your body mistakenly attacks and destroys certain cells in your own pancreas. These cells normally make a molecule called insulin. Without insulin, the sugar glucose builds up in your blood. This can cause serious health problems.

Current treatments for type 1 diabetes include frequent testing of blood glucose and insulin injections. But researchers have been working on a new approach called artificial pancreas systems. These automated systems contain a blood glucose monitor and an insulin pump. The monitor provides constant feedback to the pump. The pump then supplies insulin to the body when needed.

Past studies showed that such systems work well in adults and older children. Scientists tested an artificial pancreas system in 68 children, ages 2 to 5, with type 1 diabetes. They compared thei