Diabetics to get artificial pancreas

AN ‘ ARTIFICIAL pancreas’ will be offered to 105,000 patients with type one diabetes after regulators approved its use on the NHS.

The device monitors blood sugar levels and uses an algorithm to set the amount of insulin needed.

It spells the end of finger prick blood tests to measure blood glucose and frequent jabs for users.

The technology, costing under £5,000 per patient, uses a hybrid closed-loop system to automatically adjust insulin levels via a pump to keep sugar levels steady.

Professor Partha Kar, diabetes specialist at NHS England, said it has a ‘huge’ impact on patients’ quality of life with the potential to ward off amputations, blindness and kidney problems.

The devices will go to those among the 300,000 people in England and Wales with the condition who are at risk of longterm complications.