This morning I woke up like any normal Monday morning and after showering and getting ready for work I found my husband sitting on the couch catching up on his daily (sports) news on the lap top. I started making my normal breakfast when he said to me, "Sweetie, you have to come read this news article." I feel bad, but the answer in my head went a little something like this: What sports article does he want me to see now? Did Tiger Woods get caught again??
At any rate, I apologized to him in my head when I found out he had actually been perusing CNN (which he does every day as well), and found this article about Type 1 diabetes and the ariticial pancreas:
The article talks about an artificial pancreas that sits on the outside of the body. Currently this device has two tubes that are implanted under the skin, one that tests blood sugars and another that injects insulin (to lower blood sugars) and glucagon (to raise dangerously low blood sugars). In theory, this new invention eliminates the need to do a finger prick to test blood sugars and also allows a diabetic to eat a large amount of carbs per meal (we're talking 70-100 carbs in one sitting), to name a few "benefits." The laptop size machine that is hooked up to the patient does all of the "thinking" and calibrating on it's own, without the need for a person to do much of anything. Currently this option is only in testing phases and the FDA will not allow anyone hooked up to this device to leave the hospital with it on. The article also says this could be a viable option for the public in approximately 4 years, although my guess would be more like 10-15.
So I can guess what you all are thinking, and I don't blame you if it goes something like this: THAT'S SO GREAT! or This is exciting! or Wow, a cure! and Aren't you excited Danielle? Well, I hate to burst your bubble but honestly I am not all that impressed with this option. If you look at the pictures and and watch the video, the tubing and machinery and monitoring involved with this whole process just seems REALLY extensive. I know the whole thing will probably be the size of a cell phone by the time this could actually be a feasible option for the public, but I really don't see how it's any different than what I am doing now?! Do I have a machine that tests my blood sugar every 5 minutes? Yes. Does this machine also tell me if my blood sugar is going up or down? Yes. Do I have a machine that injects insulin into my body without me having to do anything? Yes. Do both of these machines also wirelessly 'talk" to sensors injected under my skin at all times that test blood sugar and inject insulin? Yes.
The article talks about how "lucky" this 12 year old girl was to be able to test the artificial pancreas for a few days, without having to "worry" about her diabetes. Actually, the phrase they used was that she got to take a "vacation" from her diabetes. Well if the artifical pancreas she tried for a few days was a "vacation" from her diabetes, then what I am doing now must be like living on a beach in the Carribean indefinitely. I'm a lucky girl.
... as a side note, I will say that the increasing amount of medical technology in this field is absolutely amazing and I appreciate all of the efforts that go into finding a cure for diabetes. There are several of us who would not be as healthy as we are without these outstanding accomplishments.
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