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Artificial Pancreas

At JDRF’s Artificial Pancreas Program, we are working to provide technology that is small, user-friendly and accurate, so that people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) can get through the day without needing to check blood-sugar levels or dose insulin as often.

Our Approach

In people with T1D, the body often defies even the most vigilant efforts to keep blood-sugar levels normal. Artificial pancreas systems, however, take over much of the blood-sugar management. They monitor blood-glucose levels with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and use an algorithm to automatically provide the right amount of insulin at the right time—much like a normal pancreas would do naturally.

  • Create miniaturized devices

    that go unnoticed by everyone but the wearer

  • Enable open systems

    so an insulin pump, a CGM and algorithm can “talk” to each other, regardless of the manufacturer

  • Drive algorithm advancements

    to control blood sugar automatically, even while eating or exercising

“Before I had an artificial pancreas system, I would constantly make micro-adjustments for fear of going too high or too low. Now, my artificial pancreas does it for me, and provides insulin as a result of its readings. Because of this, I think about T1D a fraction of the time, leading me to focus my efforts on more important things.”

Kady T.

28 years old, diagnosed at age 5

Kady T.

Many Paths, One Purpose

Our research into artificial pancreas devices and technologies is just one potential pathway to finding a cure for T1D. Explore JDRF’s ambitious research portfolio.

All Research

Get involved and help lead us toward a cure

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Artificial Pancreas Progress

2017

Taking DIY artificial pancreas systems mainstream

A growing number of people have used do-it-yourself (DIY) approaches to “hack” their continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps to allow them to work together as an automated insulin delivery system.

2017

Anthem decides to cover artificial pancreas systems

JDRF’s Coverage2Control campaign convinces America’s second-largest health insurance company, to cover the artificial pancreas systems.

2018

JDRF and SFC partner for open protocol designs

JDRF announces funding for SFC Fluidics to develop an insulin patch pump with open protocol communication capabilities.

2018

JDRF partners to develop AID Systems

JDRF and Ypsomed, a Switzerland-based developer and manufacturer of injection and infusion systems, partnere as part of JDRF’s Open Protocol Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) Systems Initiative.

Looking Ahead

To date, more than $110 million has been invested by JDRF. Future research will continue to automate blood-sugar management, dramatically reduce T1D-related risks and reduce the burden on people living with the disease.

Latest Artificial Pancreas Updates