No more insulin syringe and tablets
An artificial pancreas and an ‘self-thinking’ insulin pump: there are interesting developments in the field of type 1 diabetes. There is also good news for patients with type 2 diabetes. Hanno Pijl of the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) tells more about it.
Hanno Pijl (58) is an internist docrinologist and professor of diabetology at the LUMC. On behalf of the LUMC, he is working with TNO on an innovation center for lifestyle medicine.
The artificial pancreas is coming for people with type 1 diabetes
Hanno Arrow: “In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer produces insulin. This is because the immune system accidentally destroys the cells that make insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must therefore inject insulin a few times a day or wear an insulin pump. Researchers have been testing an artificial pancreas for years. The exciting thing is that it will soon be on the market, perhaps next year. The artificial pancreas connects a pump to a continuous glucose meter. It measures the sugar value 24 hours a day and then delivers the correct dose of insulin.”
Advantage for the patient: no more insulin injections with the artificial pancreas.
‘Self-thinking’ insulin pump for tailor-made treatment
Hanno Arrow: “Smarter devices are coming onto the market to better regulate the blood sugars of people with type 1 diabetes. The regular insulin pumps deliver a continuous low dose of insulin. When people start eating, they have to measure their blood sugars and press a button on the pump to add extra insulin. At night the glucose value sometimes gets too low. That’s what we call a hypo. The new ‘self-thinking’ pumps automatically stop delivering insulin when blood sugars fall too low and resume insulin delivery when they rise again. It is not yet known whether and in which cases the pump will be reimbursed.”
Patient benefit: the ‘smart’ pump can prevent severe hypos.
Type 2 diabetes can be reversed with a different lifestyle
Hanno Arrow: “In type 2 diabetes, the body no longer responds well to insulin. This form of diabetes is in many cases a lifestyle disease due to the combination of wrong nutrition, too little exercise, poor sleep and too much stress. The good news is that type 2 diabetes is reversible in many cases. I previously wrote the book Diabetes type 2? Make yourself better! In 2018, lifestyle in diabetes will receive even more attention. We hope to give this a boost at the LUMC with a new innovation center for lifestyle medicine to be established.”
Patient benefit: By addressing the causes of type 2 diabetes, you can make yourself better.
Tip from Hanno Pijl
“Avoid food from packages and bags, eat fresh! Fruit and vegetables are the basis of daily nutrition. Be frugal with starches such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Eat a handful of unsalted nuts every day. Use olive oil. And drink water, coffee and tea instead of soft drinks or fruit drinks. Then you are well on your way to a healthy diet.”
Sources):
- Plus Magazine
