Artificial insulin pump developed at St Vincent’s Hospital to monitor blood glucose levels and remove need for diabetes injections

Type 1 diabetes patients will have the chance to sleep easier as the most advanced “artificial pancreas” hits the market, thanks to years of research at Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital.

Diabetes patients will have the chance to sleep easier and avoid many more insulin injections, with the most advanced “artificial pancreas” hitting the market.

Based on a decade’s worth of research led by St Vincent’s Hospital, the world-first insulin pump automatically adjusts blood glucose levels in real-time — a breakthrough for type 1 diabetes patients.

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Lead researcher and endocrinologist Associate Professor David O’Neal said the device was a long-awaited development to improve the lives of those with the lifelong auto-immune disease.

“When you’re asleep you’re particularly vulnerable because you can’t keep an eye on things that are going on — this helps keep glucose levels automatically in a safe range,” Prof O’Neal said.

“We’ve been involved in this research for many years and it’s gratifying it has developed into something people with diabetes can use as part of their everyday care.”

Shiloh, 7, will be the first child in Australia to be fitted with a new “artificial pancreas”, delighting her mum Kimberley Fischer. Picture: Tim Carrafa

An Australian-first national trial of 120 adult patients who have used the mobile phone-sized pump for six months, is almost complete.

Preliminary results verifying its safety and efficacy mean the Medtronic device is now available to patients outside a clinical trial.

It reads blood glucose every five minutes and acts to minimise high or low levels, keeping it in a healthy and safe range.

Patients only need to adjust their insulin need for meals and exercise.

Shiloh, 7, will be the first Australian child fitted with the pump.

The grade 2 student has used an insulin pump since she was diagnosed at age two.

Shiloh has used a an insulin pump since she was diagnosed at age 2.

As well as delivering regular insulin, the device sounds an alarm when her blood glucose levels are unstable, so her dose can be adjusted.

But mum Kimberley Fischer said the new pump could respond to fluctuating levels on its own with an appropriate insulin dose, giving them extra peace of mind.

“It’s the closest technology she can ever get to having an artificial pancreas,” she said.

“It won’t interrupt schooling … now all she needs is insulin when she eats.”

Prof O’Neal said trials were underway to further improve the device to better adjust for rapid insulin changes that can occur with meals and physical activity.

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