26KIT
A
trial of the iLet Bionic Pancreas, produced by
US diabetes technology company Beta Bionics,
has shown exciting results.
First presented earlier this year at the
Advanced Technologies ad Treatments for Diabetes
(ATTD) 2022 conference in Barcelona, the findings of the
insulin-only Bionic Pancreas Pivotal Trial showed that
users spent 2.6 more hours in range a day and saw an
improvement in HbA1C of 0.5 percentage points and all
this without the hassle of having to count carbs.
The iLet Bionic Pancreas combines a tubed insulin
pump, a Dexcom G6 glucose monitor (CGM) and a
connected smartphone. Users only need enter their
weight, glucose target (usual, lower or higher), the type
of meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and its size (usual,
less, more). The pump's algorithm then automatically
calculates and makes the necessary adjustments to the
insulin dosing.
Thanks to its ease of use, the iLet was popular among
the participants in the randomised controlled trial, which
lasted 13 weeks and was led by researchers at Boston
University. The trial recruited 440 adults and children
with Type 1 diabetes at 16 centres across the US.
The iLet is not yet commercially available, though the
FDA gave it 'breakthrough device' status in December
2019, meaning that it will get fast-track approval if it
emerges as an effective treatment option.
www.betabionics.com
Kit that's coming soon
Susannah Hickling reports on some promising
developments in artificial pancreas and continuous
glucose monitoring devices. Back home in the UK, the GlucoRx AiDEX CGM has
been available on the NHS's tariff since April 2022 after
NICE issued new guidelines advising that all adults
with Type 1 diabetes should have access to a flash or
continuous glucose monitor and all children with Type
1 diabetes be eligible for a CGM and is available on
prescription. More than 3,000 have been prescribed to
date. The AiDEX is billed as being very accurate and easy
to use.
Meanwhile, the Guildford-based company is also
set to bring out the world's first non-invasive GCM.
The GlucoRx BioXensor uses patented radio frequency
technology alongside a multiple sensor approach to
measure blood glucose levels every minute. It is also able
to take other readings, such as oxygen saturation levels,
heart rate and rhythm and respiration rate.
The device is small and discreet, weighing 14g and
measuring 42mm in diameter. GlucoRx has developed
the needle-free BioXensor in collaboration with
Professor Adrian Porch and Dr Heungjae Choi, who
are world experts in radio frequency technology from
Cardiff University's School of Engineering. The device