10 ms·

Artificial Pancreas Helps People With Diabetes

21 points by denzil_correa 15y ago

dmix 15y ago
Helps people with Type 1 diabetes which is about 3-5% of all people who have diabetes (Type 2 accounts for 90%) Although Type 1 is significantly more serious.
- Shebanator 15y ago
  Its true that there are far more Type 2 diabetics than Type 1. But there are still 3 million Type 1 diabetics, and there are many Type 2 diabetics who still use insulin pumps and who thus could benefit from such a device.
- ta12121 15y ago
  Yeah, but Type 1 is much harder to treat.
Shebanator 15y ago
Funny thing: this UCSD page has an embedded video that played me an ad for KY Touch. Too bad UCSD isn't getting the money from that ad - could be a whole new way to solve the funding problem.
officialchicken 15y ago
So, where do I sign up to beta test?
herbivore 15y ago
Man the shit they come up with. A plant based diet helps and in many cases reverses diabetes, but if it's not laden with chemicals or some freak surgery people don't take it seriously. This is some sad world we live in.
- officialchicken 15y ago
  A diet can not help the people who need this.
  - deleted 15y ago
    [deleted]
  - mike_organon 15y ago
    It's a disorder of glucose regulation, so minimizing carbs and maximizing fat (because protein also leads to glucose), can help a lot. Eat more animals and vegetables, less grains.
    - officialchicken 15y ago
      Glucose regulation is done by bonding oxygen to glucose with insulin. When the pancreas does not manufacture insulin, no oxygen gets to the brain. Eating anything at all, no matter it's origin, will cause you to require insulin. Period. Eat anything YOU want, but people who need this CAN NOT be helped by modifying their diet.
      - Mz 15y ago
        Thank you very much for your first sentence. Are there any links you would reommend to better understand the process? I did a paper on "functional hypoglycemia" many years ago, so I am not starting at square one. However, I find good info (like your first sentence) tends to be in short supply.
        officialchicken 15y ago
        I'm afraid not (and to clarify the first sentence, the 3 are "bonded" to a red blood cell). Sometimes an article in a journal about beta cells or diabetic metabolism will have a quick overview, but it's usually fairly technical.
        Mz 15y ago
- awolf 15y ago
  First: this is a treatment for type 1 diabetes. There is no reversing type 1 diabetes. Second: a _low carb_ diet helps type 1 and 2 diabetes and in many cases reverses type 2 diabetes. It has nothing to do with being "plant based". The greatest improvement in my control of my type 1 diabetes came when I eliminated grains, a type of plant, from my diet. So, I directly disagree: A meat based, grain free, low carb diet is the single best prescription for anyone with any form of diabetes.
  - mike_organon 15y ago
    I agree. I went Paleo 2 years ago and it made blood sugar much easier to manage.
    - awolf 15y ago
      Yup. Paleo has been transformative for me. The reason this diet is so great for diabetics is two-fold: 1) Meat gives my body the correct satiety signals, and so staying away from all of the carby treats that I use to find so addictive is no problem. It's easier for me to eat the right foods AND eat the right amounts of those foods. 2) Meat is not made of sugar like high carbohydrate foods are. The protein of meat needs to undergo a slow metabolic process (gluconeogenisis) in order for my body to turn it into sugar. What this means is that my food is "slow release" energy (sugar) as opposed to an instant sharp spike in sugar. Predictability is key when you need to manually inject the correct amount of sugar consuming hormone after every meal. This diet is also great for EVERYONE... But that's a different discussion.
      - herbivore 15y ago
        I'm glad it works out for you, but that diet is not great for everyone. In fact, much like the standard american diet - it's BAD for everyone, especially if the meat you consume is not grass fed. You're basically consuming the toxic soup of GMO corn, soy, and other grains fed to animals that were never meant to eat that. Plus you're consuming animal protein, which is very bad for humans. Unless you're thinking mainstream, those people don't even take issue with aspartame in their regular diet coke intake.
- AlisdairO 15y ago
  My wife is a type 1 diabetic. Type 1 diabetes is a disorder not caused by diet or by any particular moral failing you might imagine, and people with it are the primary target of a device like this. Your ignorance is insulting to millions of people who suffer due to diabetes. Please educate yourself rather than spouting nonsense.
  - Mz 15y ago
    Hey, do you happen to have any links you would recommend explaining the difference? I have been keeping my mouth shut out of respect for the fact that a closed mouth gathers no feet. I am at high risk for CFRD -- cystic fibrosis related diabetes -- which is neither type 1 nor type 2, or so I understand. I have reversed a lot of my symptoms, something doctors say cannot be done. Trying to better understand the topic. Thanks.
    - AlisdairO 15y ago
      Sure - this is a pretty good explanation: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7504.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7504.php . tl;dr: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which your body kills the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leaving you with no ability to produce insulin. Type 2 sufferers, on the other hand, can usually produce a normal amount of insulin, but their cells don't respond to it sufficiently.
      - Mz 15y ago
        Thank you. Working on reading it now. (Though I think "auto immune disorder" is utter bullshit and generally means the same thing as the phrase "dumb luck" -- basically, that they don't really have a logical explanation.)
        herbivore 15y ago
        Generally auto immune disorder means your body is so full of toxins it can't work properly. That's why your first order of business is to cleanse it and stay away from everything your doctor says is fine: genetically modified foods, food dyes, pesticides, vaccines, fluoride, benzine and paragons in everyday products (think shampoo), artificial sweeteners, processed foods, animal protein and load up on vegetables, fruits, legumes, quinoa, super foods and antioxidants, etc. The information is out there, people just would rather listen to their doctor who will be out of a job if you just took better care of your body. There's no Spinach Foundation or Kale lobbyists paying doctor each time you walk in the door.
Zimahl 15y ago
As the husband of a type 1 diabetic, this isn't anything new. The only difference between this and something I've seen a half-decade ago is that it's wireless communication between the pump and the sensor. Maybe the software is a little better, maybe the sensors are a little smaller, but this isn't a step forward, it's just a step to the side. You still will have to poke yourself with 2 needles (one for the sensor, one for the injector), just not as often. You'll also have to wear this. Call it vanity but my wife would like to wear a shirt without some weird lump under it. A swimsuit might be right out. Pumps are also prohibitively expensive, even with insurance. We're talking about $8k for the pump itself and the about $500 per month for supplies (for current models). Insurance usually covers about 20% of the pump cost but it will probably have to be replaced every 5 years. There are more interesting things on the horizon like implanted glucose monitors[1][2]. Since diabetics eventually get used to the needles, they typically need a better way to know when they might need more insulin (or in some cases sugar). [1] http://www.s4ms.com/products_glucose.htm http://www.s4ms.com/products_glucose.htm [2] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100728144347.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100728144347.ht...

21 points by denzil_correa 15y ago

dmix 15y ago

Helps people with Type 1 diabetes which is about 3-5% of all people who have diabetes (Type 2 accounts for 90%) Although Type 1 is significantly more serious.

Shebanator 15y ago
Its true that there are far more Type 2 diabetics than Type 1. But there are still 3 million Type 1 diabetics, and there are many Type 2 diabetics who still use insulin pumps and who thus could benefit from such a device.
ta12121 15y ago
Yeah, but Type 1 is much harder to treat.

Shebanator 15y ago

Funny thing: this UCSD page has an embedded video that played me an ad for KY Touch. Too bad UCSD isn't getting the money from that ad - could be a whole new way to solve the funding problem.

officialchicken 15y ago

So, where do I sign up to beta test?

herbivore 15y ago

Man the shit they come up with. A plant based diet helps and in many cases reverses diabetes, but if it's not laden with chemicals or some freak surgery people don't take it seriously. This is some sad world we live in.

officialchicken 15y ago
A diet can not help the people who need this.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
- mike_organon 15y ago
  It's a disorder of glucose regulation, so minimizing carbs and maximizing fat (because protein also leads to glucose), can help a lot. Eat more animals and vegetables, less grains.
  - officialchicken 15y ago
    Glucose regulation is done by bonding oxygen to glucose with insulin. When the pancreas does not manufacture insulin, no oxygen gets to the brain. Eating anything at all, no matter it's origin, will cause you to require insulin. Period. Eat anything YOU want, but people who need this CAN NOT be helped by modifying their diet.
    - Mz 15y ago
      Thank you very much for your first sentence. Are there any links you would reommend to better understand the process? I did a paper on "functional hypoglycemia" many years ago, so I am not starting at square one. However, I find good info (like your first sentence) tends to be in short supply.
      - officialchicken 15y ago
        I'm afraid not (and to clarify the first sentence, the 3 are "bonded" to a red blood cell). Sometimes an article in a journal about beta cells or diabetic metabolism will have a quick overview, but it's usually fairly technical.
        Mz 15y ago
awolf 15y ago
First: this is a treatment for type 1 diabetes. There is no reversing type 1 diabetes. Second: a _low carb_ diet helps type 1 and 2 diabetes and in many cases reverses type 2 diabetes. It has nothing to do with being "plant based". The greatest improvement in my control of my type 1 diabetes came when I eliminated grains, a type of plant, from my diet. So, I directly disagree: A meat based, grain free, low carb diet is the single best prescription for anyone with any form of diabetes.
- mike_organon 15y ago
  I agree. I went Paleo 2 years ago and it made blood sugar much easier to manage.
  - awolf 15y ago
    Yup. Paleo has been transformative for me. The reason this diet is so great for diabetics is two-fold: 1) Meat gives my body the correct satiety signals, and so staying away from all of the carby treats that I use to find so addictive is no problem. It's easier for me to eat the right foods AND eat the right amounts of those foods. 2) Meat is not made of sugar like high carbohydrate foods are. The protein of meat needs to undergo a slow metabolic process (gluconeogenisis) in order for my body to turn it into sugar. What this means is that my food is "slow release" energy (sugar) as opposed to an instant sharp spike in sugar. Predictability is key when you need to manually inject the correct amount of sugar consuming hormone after every meal. This diet is also great for EVERYONE... But that's a different discussion.
    - herbivore 15y ago
      I'm glad it works out for you, but that diet is not great for everyone. In fact, much like the standard american diet - it's BAD for everyone, especially if the meat you consume is not grass fed. You're basically consuming the toxic soup of GMO corn, soy, and other grains fed to animals that were never meant to eat that. Plus you're consuming animal protein, which is very bad for humans. Unless you're thinking mainstream, those people don't even take issue with aspartame in their regular diet coke intake.
AlisdairO 15y ago
My wife is a type 1 diabetic. Type 1 diabetes is a disorder not caused by diet or by any particular moral failing you might imagine, and people with it are the primary target of a device like this. Your ignorance is insulting to millions of people who suffer due to diabetes. Please educate yourself rather than spouting nonsense.
- Mz 15y ago
  Hey, do you happen to have any links you would recommend explaining the difference? I have been keeping my mouth shut out of respect for the fact that a closed mouth gathers no feet. I am at high risk for CFRD -- cystic fibrosis related diabetes -- which is neither type 1 nor type 2, or so I understand. I have reversed a lot of my symptoms, something doctors say cannot be done. Trying to better understand the topic. Thanks.
  - AlisdairO 15y ago
    Sure - this is a pretty good explanation: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7504.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7504.php . tl;dr: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which your body kills the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leaving you with no ability to produce insulin. Type 2 sufferers, on the other hand, can usually produce a normal amount of insulin, but their cells don't respond to it sufficiently.
    - Mz 15y ago
      Thank you. Working on reading it now. (Though I think "auto immune disorder" is utter bullshit and generally means the same thing as the phrase "dumb luck" -- basically, that they don't really have a logical explanation.)
      - herbivore 15y ago
        Generally auto immune disorder means your body is so full of toxins it can't work properly. That's why your first order of business is to cleanse it and stay away from everything your doctor says is fine: genetically modified foods, food dyes, pesticides, vaccines, fluoride, benzine and paragons in everyday products (think shampoo), artificial sweeteners, processed foods, animal protein and load up on vegetables, fruits, legumes, quinoa, super foods and antioxidants, etc. The information is out there, people just would rather listen to their doctor who will be out of a job if you just took better care of your body. There's no Spinach Foundation or Kale lobbyists paying doctor each time you walk in the door.

Zimahl 15y ago

As the husband of a type 1 diabetic, this isn't anything new. The only difference between this and something I've seen a half-decade ago is that it's wireless communication between the pump and the sensor. Maybe the software is a little better, maybe the sensors are a little smaller, but this isn't a step forward, it's just a step to the side. You still will have to poke yourself with 2 needles (one for the sensor, one for the injector), just not as often. You'll also have to wear this. Call it vanity but my wife would like to wear a shirt without some weird lump under it. A swimsuit might be right out. Pumps are also prohibitively expensive, even with insurance. We're talking about $8k for the pump itself and the about $500 per month for supplies (for current models). Insurance usually covers about 20% of the pump cost but it will probably have to be replaced every 5 years. There are more interesting things on the horizon like implanted glucose monitors[1][2]. Since diabetics eventually get used to the needles, they typically need a better way to know when they might need more insulin (or in some cases sugar). [1] http://www.s4ms.com/products_glucose.htm http://www.s4ms.com/products_glucose.htm [2] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100728144347.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100728144347.ht...