Editorial

Prospects for an artificial pancreas

Professor Simon Heller of the Editorial Board

Diabetic Hypoglycemia Jun 2010, Volume 3, Issue 1: page 1-2

Modern insulin therapy attempts to reproduce the physiology of the beta cell. The essential principles include separating the delivery of prandial and basal insulin using either injections of quick acting and medium acting insulin, respectively, or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Patients learn to calculate the different amounts of prandial insulin needed, according to the amount of carbohydrate consumed at each meal. They also need to take into account their prevailing blood glucose concentration and whether this is rising or falling, as well as anticipating the duration and intensity of any additional physical activity.