Medical device could 'revolutionise the patient experience of diabetes care'

MPN editor Laura Hughes looks at the new diabetes technology in detail.

What is the medical device?

The adhesive patch is able to monitor the blood sugar level of the person and deliver insulin dosages based on this level. It is designed to be used once-a-day.

How does this mechanism work?

Within the device there are micro-needles which are less than 1mm long and made from a glucose-sensing polymer. These micro-needles are pre-loaded with insulin. The amount of insulin which is released depends on the person’s blood sugar levels.

What are the benefits of using the patch to monitor blood sugar levels?

Besides from the convenience of this method of insulin delivery for people, the device aims to prevent the chance of an insulin overdose. Insulin overdoses can lead to hypoglycaemia, seizures, coma and in some cases death.

How was the patch developed?

The technology was developed by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The research has been published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Is the patch ready for use in the real world?

Not quite. Following successful testing on animals, the researchers have applied for FDA approval to conduct clinical trials in humans, which they anticipate to begin within a few years.

What the researchers are saying

Research team leader Zhen Gu said: "This smart patch takes away the need to constantly check one's blood sugar and then inject insulin if and when it's needed. It mimics the regulatory function of the pancreas but in a way that's easy to use."

Study co-author John Buse commented: "It has always been a dream to achieve insulin delivery in a smart and convenient manner. This smart insulin patch, if proven safe and effective in human trials, would revolutionise the patient experience of diabetes care."