A special feature on an insulin pump may prevent low blood sugar according to WebMD.
"Hypoglycemia is a major problem in diabetes treatment," Dr. Timothy Jones, of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, Australia and author of a study told WebMD. "The aim of the trial was to test whether a new type of insulin pump reduces life-threatening hypoglycemic events in patients with type 1 diabetes.
"We found, in a randomized trial, that this technology was able to prevent severe hypoglycemia. We don't like to be dramatic, but this may save lives, and certainly will improve quality of life and diabetes control," he said.
In the study the new type of insulin pump was found to reduce the number of times people with type 1 diabetes had moderate to severe low blood sugar. The device has a sensor that can tell when blood sugar levels decreasing. The technology then temporarily stops delivering insulin to the body in order to prevent low blood sugar from being developed.
According to WebMD, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system destroys cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. The levels of blood sugars rise and eventually reach life-threatening stages if the body does not have insulin or the hormone used to bring blood sugar into the body.
The study, conducted in Australia used an insulin pump that had a blood sugar sensor and the capability to stop the hormone delivering to the body if blood sugar levels went lower than normal.
Along with Australia, the pump has also been approved in Europe and Canada. Researchers have also submitted the information to the United States Food and Drug Administration so the pump can be used in America as well according to the manufacturers website, Medtronic.
Findings from the study can be found in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association WebMD reported.
