In the United States has developed a new method for treating type 1 diabetes
Scientists at the Oregon University of Health and Science School of Medicine in Portland, Oregon, have developed a new mechanism for monitoring blood sugar and automatically replenishing it with insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Researchers shared the results of their work in the monthly online journal Nature Metabolism, writes TASS.
The body of patients with type 1 diabetes is not able to produce insulin, which is the main natural utilizer of excess sugar. For this reason, endocrinologists have two most important tasks – to control the level of glucose in the blood of patients and, on the basis of the data obtained, to administer insulin in that concentration that will not allow either lowering the sugar level below the natural level or allowing it to remain above normal.
The mechanism proposed by researchers at the University of Oregon is almost ideally suited for this group of patients: an injection device with insulin, remotely controlled wirelessly and responsive to information obtained using artificial intelligence (AI) about blood sugar concentration.
The new technique has greatly expanded the ability of patients to monitor their condition on the smartphone screen, the authors claim. The package of information is called DailyDose. This function allows patients to monitor their physiological data online without resorting to any other manipulations.
Scientists see a special role of the proposed method in the prevention of such a formidable complication in the treatment of type 1 diabetes as hypoglycemia. A decrease in blood sugar is fraught with the development of coma, or death. Constant monitoring will warn in time about terminal conditions, the researchers conclude.
“Our system is unique”, – said project author, employee at the School of Medicine, Oregon University of Health and Science, Nicole Tyler. “We have developed an algorithm for the functioning of AI using a special mathematical model that allows us to analyze and make decisions so far at the level of an endocrinologist, but in the future we hope that the artificial“ doctor ”will surpass the intelligence of doctors”.
This methodology, according to scientists, will greatly facilitate the lives of patients who can currently allow a visit to a specialist no more than once every three to six months, which is recommended by medical authorities.
Since severe complications can develop in patients over such a long period of time, and blood sugar levels can either rise or fall, constant monitoring of patients’ condition, according to the researchers, can play a significant role in maintaining their comfortable existence.
“Our group also studied the results of other studies on this topic”, adds Peter Jacobs, co-author of the project, professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon University of Health and Science. “But very few of them contain verified statistics and comparative information between the experimental data and the established methods of endocrinologists”.
Recall that diabetes is a chronic disease of the endocrine system that occurs if the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. There are several types of this disease. The first type is insulin-dependent, when a person needs injections of this hormone for life. This type of disease manifests itself in childhood, it can not be prevented.
In diabetes of the second type – non-insulin-dependent – the body cannot properly use the produced insulin, which is often the result of overweight and lack of physical activity. This type is diagnosed in 90% of patients.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 420 million people live with diabetes in the world. This disease is the seventh most common cause of death.
Source: fakty.ua
