According to a 2011 diabetes fact sheet by the Center for Disease Control, there are over 25.8 million people with diabetes, which represents 8.5% of the U.S. population and growing Over ten million seniors (27% of U.S. population) over 65 years have diabetes.
Type I (juvenile) & II (adult) diabetic are the most popular versions of this disease, but there are several other forms too. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes causes heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other onsequences if not prevented or controlled.
Researchers are now reporting a major innovation in controlling insulin levels for diabetic sufferers using an artificial pancreas. This device is actually a computer and pump that monitors the blood sugar and automatically supplies insulin to the patient as needed.
There is a current study of about 250 Type I diabetic patients using this technology and it apparently is showing very favorable results as reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. Europeans are now using this technology with great success.
Even though this is the first step for a cure, it is hoped this technology will help the other forms of diabetes for many Americans. Many Americans now use an insulin pump that requires constant monitoring of the blood sugar levels. With this new technology, the blood sugar levels are constantly monitored without any assistance and a pump provides the required amounts of insulin. As reported previously, a biological artificial pancreas is being developed too.
So technology is helping diabetics and hopefully within 10 years, there will be multiple technologies to cure diabetes.
Bob Larson is a technologist and Marketing Director for 50 Plus. Contact Bob at Email Bob for more info on this column.