DIABETES KIT
diabetes for almost 40 years. When you
do the maths, 10 per week means I may
have had 20,000 hypos in my lifetime.
That's more than many people have had
hot dinners. It highlights the challenge
that this life-long condition represents.
Worrying about hypos - let alone actually
having one - is a daily stress for anyone
with this condition. JDRF's progress on
the artificial pancreas means a lot to me."
Sky News presenter Stephen Dixon,
who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes
when he was 17, said: "I've always
refused to let Type 1 diabetes hold
me back. But minimising hypos does
take considerable effort. I always carry
Glucogel or a snack around with me in
case I feel the symptoms of a hypo come
on - which has happened when I've
been on air. The artificial pancreas is very
exciting technology. I look forward to the
time when I can use one myself as part of
day-to-day life."
Dr Roman Hovorka from the University
of Cambridge is leading the UK effort to
develop an effective artificial pancreas. As
principal researcher on the trial, he said:
"The study is an important stepping stone
for the wider use of an artificial pancreas.
We have shown that overnight home use
is feasible and beneficial - allowing people
to live their life more freely. The artificial
pancreas is expected to transform the
treatment of type 1 diabetes and we
have proven that this promise holds. The
success of this trial means that larger and
longer studies are already in the pipeline."
Karen Addington, is UK Chief
Executive of JDRF, the type 1 diabetes
charity which funded Dr Hovorka's
study. She said: "Type 1 diabetes is a
challenging and complex condition that
requires constant management every day.
At JDRF we remain focused on improving
lives until we find the cure. Hypos are what
people living with type 1 diabetes hate
most. Ten hypos a week is a shockingly
high figure, demonstrating just how much
we need the artificial pancreas to become
an accessible reality. Thankfully, the results
of this latest artificial pancreas study are
really exciting."
continue over for news on
diabetes drugs and
delivery systems ....