Researchers at the University of Virginia have developed an artificial pancreas that mimics a healthy pancreas and its important glucose regulating function. Although not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it offers a hopeful solution for those with Type 1 diabetes, whose pancreas makes little or no insulin at all.

The artificial pancreas is a device that is placed under the skin. Here, the device measures and monitors the patients' blood sugar levels through a sensor. The data from the device is transmitted to a insulin pump, which delivers insulin in the proper, controlled amounts. Equipped with sophisticated software that's capable of checking the body's blood sugar, the device sends off the correct dose of insulin exactly when it is needed.



The device essentially takes the worry out of monitoring blood sugar yourself, since the machine is doing it for you. What does this mean for many Americans who have type 1 diabetes? They should see improvements in their quality of life because they won't have to be preoccupied with checking their blood sugar every five minutes.



The artificial pancreas device hasn't hit the consumer market yet, but the FDA is committed in seeing it come to volition. That said, they are proceeding with caution. Although the benefits of the artificial pancreas are gigantic, if the device is not designed, implemented, or used properly, it could result in significant health risks as the device controls the dispensing of insulin without the supervision of a health care professional.