NHS project could be 'life-changing' for people with diabetes

02 April 2024 , 12:33

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It would mean that people will not need to inject themselves with insulin (Image: Getty Images)

The NHS has begun identifying people with type 1 diabetes who could receive a world-first "artificial pancreas".

Regional NHS bodies in England have been given £2.5 million to help select patients for the "life-changing" technology as part of a five-year rollout. The Hybrid Closed Loop System device means that people with the condition will not need to inject themselves with insulin, instead the "artificial pancreas" will detect insulin levels and deliver the required dosage to the body.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) approved the rollout of the initiative in December 2023 after the NHS had a successful pilot of the technology which saw 835 adults and children given the devices to manage their condition. here are around 270,000 people living with type 1 diabetes in England.

Nice recommends the artificial pancreases be given to children under 18 with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women with the condition, and adults who have an average blood sugar reading of 7.5 per cent or more and those who suffer abnormally low blood sugar levels. Nice guidelines recommend people should aim for an HbA1c level of 6.5 per cent or lower.

Colette Marshall, chief executive of the Diabetes UK charity, said: "Diabetes is a tough and relentless condition, but these systems make a significant, life-changing difference improving both the overall health and quality of life for people with diabetes. This really is a landmark moment and we'll be working with the NHS and others to ensure a fair rollout that reaches people as quickly as possible."

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Dr Clare Hambling, NHS England's national clinical director, said: "This transformative technology holds the power to redefine the lives of those with type 1 diabetes, promising a better quality of life as well as clinical outcomes." The artificial pancreas has improved the life of 38-year-old Gemma Lavery, from Plymouth in Devon. She received the device as part of the NHS pilot and has called it a "game changer".

Ms Lavery said: "I no longer have to worry about work-related stress affecting my blood glucose levels as the closed loop helps to sort this out before it becomes a problem. I can have a full night's sleep without worrying about regular low glucose levels hindering my morning routine and I have found that my diabetes is more stable."

PA