Scientists design "artificial pancreas" to ease pregnancy in diabetics

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Author: Priyanka Verma

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that destroys body's ability to produce insulin on its own. The condition is considered highly risky for pregnant women with diabetes as during pregnancy a lot of hormonal changes take place, making it difficult to maintain a steady blood glucose level.

As per lead researcher from Cambridge University, Dr. Helen Murphy, "Previous studies indicate that pregnant women with the condition spend an average of ten hours a day with glucose levels outside the recommended target."

Hence the discovery of "artificial pancreas" is a good news for these women as the device may help in maintaining a near-normal glucose level needed for safe pregnancy, added Dr. Murphy.

"Artificial pancreas" is a mobile-sized device consisting of an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), worn on the hip. The device not just monitors blood sugar levels but also pumps insulin into patient's blood stream if glucose level drops.

High blood sugar levels risky for pregnant women As per study researchers, this kind of device was needed as pregnant women with high blood sugar levels are known to be at an increased risk of suffering neonatal death, stillbirth, congenital abnormalities, premature births etc.

Women with diabetes are also five times more likely to deliver a stillborn and babies born to these women are three times more likely than others to die within first few months of their life.

Babies born to diabetic mothers are also twice more likely to suffer from some or the other major deformity, revealed study authors.

Further research needed Though, the entire medical community has welcomed the new study findings with open arms, still they believe that further studies is needed to know more about the whole process before recommending it for the masses.

"Although early days, this exciting area of research, funded by our donors, has huge potential to make pregnancy much safer for women with type 1 diabetes, and their babies.

"We now need to see an extension of this study, one which tests larger numbers of women, and then take it out of the hospital and into the home setting," said director of research at Diabetes UK, Iain Frame.

The study findings recently appeared in the journal 'Diabetes Care.'