SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Ivanhoe Newswire) – The FDA recently approved a device for diabetics, called the “bionic pancreas,” taking much of the burden of continually entering carb intake, off the user. With one entry describing the size of their next meal, an AI algorithm then precisely determines insulin to keep blood sugar stable. That is revolutionary for one San Antonio teen who can now focus on homework, rather than carbohydrates. Type 1 Diabetes
Mia Campos is 15, and a skilled gymnast. She’s also a type 1 diabetic, as she found out during a competition five years ago.
“I was drinking a lot of water, going to the bathroom a lot, sometimes, seven or eight times a night,” she recalls.
Her blood sugar was off the charts, so she was fitted with a traditional insulin pump, which requires continual programming and not surprisingly, there were glitches. Fortunately, her pediatric endocrinologist recommended a “bionic pancreas,” cleared by the FDA and now, commercially available. It clips to her jeans, and using AI software, tailoring to her glucose levels.
“This one, actually, has three algorithms. It learns your own biorhythm for what you need different times of day,” explains Pediatric Endocrinologist at UT Health San Antonio/University Health, Jane Lynch, MD.
Approved for ages six and up, this iLet device requires just one entry about the diabetic’s next meal size.
Dr. Lynch further explains, “She will put this on, we’ll plug in her weight. Within in four days, it will conservatively give her insulin, figure out her schedule, keep her blood sugars in the 200s, 150s, and, then down to 140s.”
“I absolutely loved it. I think it’ll help a bunch of people, or kids, who have busy lives and can’t take the time out of their day to put in, like, manually, their carbs, so, this will do it for them,” Mia expresses.
The “bionic pancreas” utilizes an attached plastic infusion set that talks to the sensors and delivers the insulin. Dr. Lynch says diet and exercise are also critical to maintaining sugar levels.
Contributors to this news report include: Donna Parker, Producer; Bruce Maniscalco, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: BIONIC PANCREAS: TYPE 1 DIABETES CAN’T STOP THIS GYMNAST
REPORT: MB #5327
BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking and destroying insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar (glucose) levels. Without sufficient insulin, glucose cannot enter cells for energy, leading to elevated blood sugar levels and various complications. According to the CDC, over 38 million people have diabetes, and just over 8.5 million people go undiagnosed.
(Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20353011
DIAGNOSING: Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include, but aren’t limited to: feeling thirstier than usual, urinating a lot, bed-wetting in children, feeling very hungry, losing weight without trying, feeling irritable, fatigue and weakness, and blurry vision. Doctors are able to diagnose type 1 diabetes with a series of tests that include: glycated hemoglobin, or A1C test, a random blood sugar test, or a fastig blood sugar test. Your doctor may also perform a blood test, if you are diagnosed with diabetes, to determine whether it is type 1 or type 2.
(Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20353011
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353017)
NEW TECHNOLOGY: The bionic pancreas is the newest device that has been FDA-approved for type 1 diabetics. It doesn’t treat diabetes but it does make life a little easier for diabetics. The bionic pancreas is an AI-generated device that delivers insulin into the body and takes note of how many carbs are consumed. Pediatric endocrinologist at UT Health San Antonio/University Health, Jane Lynch, MD says, “The bionic pancreas utilizes an attached plastic infusion set that talks to the sensors and delivers insulin. Diet and exercise are also critical to maintaining sugar levels.)
Jane Lynch, MD, Pediatric Endocrinologist at UT Health San Antonio/University Health)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Shelley Kofler Monica Taylor
Shelley.kofler@uhtx.com taylorm1@uthscsa.edu
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