A JDRF-funded study at the University of Cambridge showed that an overnight treat-to-range device improved glucose control

A recent JDRF-funded study at the University of Cambridge has found that unsupervised, at-home use of a treat-to-range artificial pancreas system can improve blood-glucose control throughout the night and into the next day. You can click on the video to learn more about the three-week home study of adolescents, ages 12 to 18, in real-life conditions.

JDRF Research: Artificial Pancreas Technology Put to the Test in the UK from JDRF on Vimeo.

“We have found that unsupervised day and night use of our AP system at home in adolescents and adults is feasible, safe and effective,” said Dr. Martin Tauschmann, clinical research fellow at the University of Cambridge.

JDRF-UK supported this project and is confident that this study and others will improve glucose control until we reach our ultimate goal of a cure. “We are hopeful that with the AP system we don’t have to worry as much about our highs and lows, and we have better control,” said Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D., JDRF chief mission officer and vice president, research. “Managing T1D is a round-the-clock job, and my parents still worry about my brother, who also has the disease, and me. The AP systems will help reduce some of that worry for them, and will give me the freedom to think about other things until there is a cure.” For more information or to support JDRF’s artificial pancreas research program, please click here.

Why it matters:

The University of Cambridge study showed that when using the overnight AP system, the number of nights with hypoglycemia decreased by nearly 50 percent, and that unsupervised home use in adolescents with T1D is both safe and effective. Trial participants and their parents reported improvements in quality of life when using the system. Among the benefits noted were greater peace of mind and better sleep without having to frequently monitor their blood glucose, and more confidence in their type 1 diabetes control. The use of an AP system during sleep is important, because hypoglycemia frequently occurs overnight in individuals with T1D, and can result in loss of consciousness, seizure or even death.