Thiruvananthapuram :
A 53-year-old man, who was diabetic for the past 18 years, became the first patient in south India to have an artificial pancreas after a successful procedure at Jothydev’s Diabetes Research Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. The first generation artificial pancreas, 640 G, was implanted earlier this month. Artificial pancreas was first tried on a four-year-old Australian boy who had type-one diabetes in January this year.
Dr Jothydev Kesavadev, who heads the centre, said that the 640 G is a network of devices that includes a device for continuous glucose monitoring and an insulin delivery system that are connected wirelessly. “In type-one diabetes and in many type-two cases, the biggest challenge is to keep the sugar level normal and avoiding hypoglycaemia or low sugar. It is a major cause for patient deaths in diabetes and a major reason for treatment failure. 640 G comes with an innovative technology where the pump will predict an impending low sugar 30 minutes in advance and automatically shutdown to prevent a low sugar episode. This system has automatic sensor to assess impending drop of blood sugar – say 60 – even when sugar level is 100. The pump will resume functioning once the sugar level is normal,” he said.
The device – which is almost the size of an iPhone – can be attached to the stomach, buttock of kids or on thighs of patients wearing dhoti. Insulin must be refilled every three days. 640G is so unique that the device need not be removed even while bathing or swimming. A tiny remote control, the contour meter helps glucose monitoring, insulin infusion and wireless communication between devices. The device is painless and ideal for kids,” said Dr Kesavadev.
“When insulin was founded in 1922, it was big remedy. But sudden change in sugar level remained a challenge. About 80-95 % of diabetes patients experience sudden change is sugar level. Either they get admitted for hypoglycaemia or for high sugar by eating sugar to control the sudden drop. This could be prevented if there is a device like 640 G,” he said.
The device is priced at Rs 5 to 6 lakh and entails a recurring monthly expense of Rs 10,000-20,000. However, the doctor said that it was cost-effective considering the cost for a pancreas transplant and related treatment.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / by Jisha Surya, TNN / September 14th, 2015