North diabetic sufferers help develop new treatment

Jun 2 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal

THOUSANDS of diabetic patients could benefit from revolutionary treatment developed by a North East doctor.

Dr James Shaw, senior lecturer and diabetes consultant at Newcastle University, took part in a clinical study for a new insulin pump designed to mimic the human pancreas.

Thirty patients at Newcastle Diabetes Centre took part in the trial, where they tested the new pump for some time and outlined their findings to Dr Shaw.

The pump, a world first device, automatically stops the flow of insulin to the body if blood sugar levels fall too low.

It is designed to help prevent hypoglycaemic attacks – commonly known as “hypos” – which can leave diabetics in a coma and can prove fatal.

Manufacturer Medtronic said diabetics in the UK and Ireland will be the first in the world to use a new technology, which combines an insulin pump with continuous blood sugar monitoring.

Patients take glucose readings from the device’s monitor, supplemented with occasional pin prick blood tests, to work out their blood sugar levels.

They then programme the pump to deliver the right amount of insulin and input a “threshold” below which their blood sugar levels must not fall.

If their blood glucose level does drop below this marker, the pump automatically suspends insulin delivery for up to two hours, helping prevent a hypo.

Dr Shaw said the device was an exciting development in the treatment of diabetes.

“This new device enables the first steps towards ‘closing the loop’, whereby detection of dangerously low glucose levels by the sensor can suspend insulin delivery by the pump,” he explained.