In Perth, Western Australia, little Xavier Hames was the first in the world to receive a subcutaneous implant that works like an artificial pancreas. This four-year-old boy has type 1 diabetes and will no longer need insulin injections. At the 'Princess Margaret Hospital for Children' in Perth they inserted a kind of pocket at waist level yesterday morning.
These 'insulin pumps' already exist, but the novelty is that the sensor, says Professor Tim Jones, is capable of predicting when glucose levels will drop (in those cases there can be even lethal hypoglycemia) and thus supplies insulin only when needed. Xavier's mother, Naomi, says this new implant reassures her and will help her sleep better. She first had to get up every night to monitor her glucose levels and intervene if they were too low.
Refilling the artificial pancreas can be done at home. Professor Jones says it's a very simple procedure, done every three days.
The new device is already available on the market and costs A$10.
Attachments: The Wa Today article
