Tagged: artificial pancreas
Bionic Pancreas… iLet… A “Cure” By Any Other Name…
The team from Bionic Pancreas is asking everyone to spread the news… and I’m happy to do so.
I believe in the work they are doing and they are the horse (OK, the artificial pancreas system) I am backing until there is a biological cure. I know my body and I know that I need the glucagon portion of this system to keep my blood glucose levels in range.
I’ve donated before and I will again to this…And I’d love for you to read on and hear what they’re doing. We’re so close. And you can help.
From The Bionic Pancreas Team:
Exciting innovative work is being done at Boston University that is focused on profoundly improving outcomes in type 1 diabetes and substantially reducing the burden of diabetes management. Ed Damiano and his team have developed the one and only fully integrated, fully automated bihormonal bionic pancreas. They have done so in large part from charitable donations from the type 1 community. I support this project.
I am asking for your help. I invite you to look at the work that they have done, the results of multiple outpatient trials that they have completed with their clinical collaborators across the US, and the iLetTM, which was unveiled in July 2015 at the Friends for Life Children with Diabetes Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Ed and his team need our help to bring this to children and adults living with type 1 diabetes. After looking at this information, I am asking you to donate to this project.
Boston University is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax deductible. Boston University assesses no overhead on your gift, so 100% of your donation goes directly to a dedicated account set aside for the Bionic Pancreas Project.
Without our help, this project may encounter a delay from their goal of conducting the final pivotal trial in 2017. These are the trials needed in order to submit the device for final FDA approval.
While Ed’s group has received funding from the NIH, the Helmsley Charitable Trust, and the JDRF, this money has funded the clinical studies, not the development of the device itself. The project needs at ~ $1.5 million this year in order for his team to remain on track with their device development efforts.
I have included some information from their website as well as links to more information. I have also included a pledge form. If you need more information or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me or Scott Scolnick on the Bionic Pancreas fundraising team.
His contact information is Scott Scolnick, M.Ed., [email protected], 617-608-7362.
Thank you in advance for your support.
TEDx talk:
NEJM Manuscript
BionicPancreas website
Introducing the iLet
We’ve taken a big step towards a marketable Bionic Pancreas – the iLet.
Built-in wireless CGM technology
Using Dexcom CGM technology, the iLet offers its own, built-in, continuous glucose monitor. All that is required is a Dexcom sensor and transmitter and the iLet will replace your regular CGM receiver.
No separate processor, all the smarts are already built-in.
No longer do we need a laptop or an iPhone to run our insulin and glucagon dosing algorithms; the iLet brings with it a dedicated platform to run all of our dosing algorithms on a single, handheld device.
The iLet is an automated, personalized diabetes management platform that automatically learns your insulin requirements and automatically adapts its insulin dosing to your ever- changing needs, allowing you to focus on the rest of your life.
Two pumps in one
The iLet integrates two independent pumping systems, one for insulin and one for glucagon. These pumps are automatically commanded by our insulin and glucagon dosing algorithms every 5 minutes.
Streamlined, simple, and friendly user-interface
A touch-screen display brings all the information you need right to your fingertips through an extremely simple and elegant user-interface.
NOTE: The iLet is an investigational device and is not yet FDA approved. Our goal is to conduct human factors studies and begin clinical trials testing the iLet in 2016.
Help This Become A Reality And DONATE today by clicking this link.
Donations support the Bionic Pancreas Project at Boston University. 100% of your gift is tax deductible, and goes directly to the work being done on the one and only fully integrated, fully automated bihormonal bionic pancreas.
7 Noteworthy Diabetes Clinical Trials Recruiting NOW…
Clinical trials are the only way that we are going to get better treatments, better devices, and better…cures.
Here are seven noteworthy diabetes clinical trials recruiting now that you might want to look into and see if you (or anyone you know) might be eligible to volunteer.
Click on the titles of each trial to get more info straight from the ClinicalTrials.gov website.
(Remember… some clinical trials may have you take a placebo in lieu of the investigational drug. Some clinical trials may require extra visits, invasive testing, and travel. You need to think about what the benefits and risks are for trial participation. That being said… nothing ventured, nothing gained.)
Repeat BCG Vaccinations for the Treatment of Established Type 1 Diabetes
The purpose of this study is to see if repeat bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccinations can confer a beneficial immune and metabolic effect on Type 1 diabetes. Published Phase I data on repeat BCG vaccinations in long term diabetics showed specific death of some of the disease causing bad white blood cells and also showed a short and small pancreas effect of restored insulin secretion. In this Phase II study, the investigators will attempt to vaccinate more frequently to see if these desirable effects can be more sustained.
Eligible volunteers will either be vaccinated with BCG in a repeat fashion over a period of four years or receive a placebo treatment. The investigators hypothesize that each BCG vaccination will eliminate more and more of the disease causing white blood cells that could offer relief to the pancreas for increased survival and restoration of insulin secretion from the pancreas.
If you’re interested and meet the criteria (and the location, as the trial is being conducted in Boston and requires weekly injections for the first year… don’t know if you can do this at home…), you should send an email to: [email protected]
This is Dr. Denise Faustman’s lab and website. Check out the details and what she’s doing.
Multiple Daily Injections and Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Diabetes (DIaMonD)
Evaluate if addition and use of real time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) improves glycemic outcome of patients using multiple daily injections (MDI) and self monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) testing, who are not at target glycemic control.
If you are on multiple daily injections, this might be a great opportunity to participate in a really interesting study if you are willing to wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and possibly a pump. Check out the inclusion/exclusion criteria and locations, then send an email or call to either:
| Eileen Casal, RN, MSN | 858-875-9774 | [email protected] | |
| David Price, MD | 858-875-9525 | [email protected] |
A Trial Comparing Continuous Glucose Monitoring With and Without Routine Blood Glucose Monitoring in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes (REPLACE-BG)
The primary objective of the study is to determine whether the routine use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) without Blood Glucose Monitoring (BGM) confirmation is as safe and effective as CGM used as an adjunct to BGM.
This study will determine if we can actually make treatment decisions based on our CGM alone when we feel it is accurate, not verifying it with a finger-stick blood glucose check.
This. Is. Huge.
Why? Because one of the reasons why Medicare, Medicaid, and some insurance companies refuse to pay for a continuous glucose monitor, claiming it’s just an adjunct to a blood glucose meter and we still have to check to make treatment decisions. (And we know better, don’t we?) This trial has a lot of inclusion and exclusion criteria, but seriously… if you can do this, you will help the entire T1 diabetes community get access to this device.
Contact either person for more info:
| Katrina Ruedy, MSPH | 813-975-8690 | [email protected] | |
| Nhung “Leena” Nguyen, MPH, CCRP | 813-975-8690 | [email protected] |
Glucose Variability Pilot Study for the Abbott Sensor Based Glucose Monitoring System-Professional
This is to trial the Abbot Libre system, which is a sensor with “flash monitoring” for individuals with Type 2 diabetes. How cool is that? They currently need participants in the following locations: San Diego, Detroit, Kansas City, MO and Pearland, TX. If you meet the criteria, shoot Dr. Karinka an email for more info and get enrolled.
| Shridhara Alva Karinka, Ph.D. | 510-749-6393 | [email protected] |
A Study To Assess The Safety Of PF-06342674 In Adults With Type 1 Diabetes
If you are a newly diagnosed (within the last two years) adult (over 18), you can participate in a Phase 1 clinical trial for a biological drug, examining safety issues. Again, look at the criteria and locations, then if you are interested, call:
| Pfizer CT.gov Call Center | 1-800-718-1021 |
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02038764
In-Clinic Evaluation of the Predictive Low Glucose Management (PLGM) System in Adult and Pediatric Insulin Requiring Patients With Diabetes Using the Enlite 3 Sensor
This is a Medtronic study for their next step in the artificial pancreas technology pathway. (And hello… “Enlite 3 sensor!”)
All subjects will undergo hypoglycemic induction at Visit 2 with target set to 65 mg/dL using the rate of change basal increase algorithm. Low Limit setting when PLGM ON is 65 mg/dL.
The more patients willing to participate in artificial pancreas technology trials, the faster this technology will become available! Take a look at the locations and criteria and if you’re able to do this trial, contact:
| Julie Sekella | (818) 576-5171 | julie.sekella@medtronic.com |
Along those same lines…
Hybrid Closed Loop Pivotal Trial in Type 1 Diabetes
This is a BIG. DEAL. for people with diabetes in the United States. If on this trial, you get to wear the MMT-670G insulin pump, using it with the closed loop algorithm.
Closed Loop. Closed Loop. Need we say more?
Contact: Thomas P Troub(818) 576-3142 thomas.troub@medtronic.com to get involved.
There are so many studies out there that need our help. We help ourselves AND all people with diabetes. Do what you can. If you can’t participate, share this post with someone who might be able to volunteer.
Hoarder…
I’m a hoarder.
You wouldn’t expect that from me, especially since our house is on the minimalist side of the spectrum and I’m not very nostalgic with material items. But I am hoarding right now and I don’t know how to stop.
It’s been almost a month since the Friends For Life Conference in Orlando. I’m hoarding memories and things I want to say about what I discovered while I was attending. I want to share and yet every time I sit down at the keyboard, my mind seizes up and won’t let the words flow. What’s worse is that I am still processing some aspects, so one thought piles on top of another, pitching precariously over my head.
Others have touched upon their own personal highlights, and I’ve done my share, but there is so much more that needs to be told.
So, I ask this of you. Much like hoarders who get professional help, I have to start small, so I’m leaving it up to you, dear readers, to tell me the order of my posts. (Maybe this will help me release some of these thoughts and feelings…).
What would you like to hear about first?
You’ll be able to see what others think, but don’t let that sway you. (If you want to hear me talk about something else, then comment on that as well…) I need help before my head is condemned!
Dream Device
I’m taking the wildcard prompt today for Diabetes Blog Week 2013, because all of my acrylics are buried under fingerpaints and Play-Doh. Someday soon I’ll drag the canvases back out, but for now, you get my dream device. Here’s the prompt: Tell us what your fantasy diabetes device would be? Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc etc etc. The sky is the limit – what would you love to see?
It’s pretty much already here. The Artificial (or Bionic) Pancreas project that everyone talks about is almost my dream device. I wish that I was still living up in New England to be a part of the clinical trials, but I can wait a little while longer. Of course, I’d make some modifications…
No more calibrating fingerpricks; the dream device would use a sensor scanned through the skin to measure capillary blood glucose. (I recognize that we’d still need a needle insertion for the CGM and the insulin/glucagon delivery.
The device would be smaller than my current pump (especially the CGM). We’d use a concentrated insulin/glucagon setup, so that a little cartridge of each would last a lot longer.
Those would be the only two things on the dream device that isn’t currently available on the AP that is in clinical trials right now. We’re so close. So very close…
HAWMC Day 15 - Hope
This was my HAWMC prompt today: Pick someone else’s blog post and write a comment to them, using your blog post as the way to communicate.
This. This is the post I needed to see.
I arrived late to the motherhood part of my life. Not just fashionably late, but the “Hey, there may be a few soggy canapés left on a tray over in the corner” kind of late. Truth be told, if it wasn’t for hope (and a hell of a lot of doctors), I wouldn’t be spending my evenings breathing in the intoxicating scent of my daughter as we rock to sleep.
So, I’m a big fan of hope. It can be raised up, floated, or have wings. It can sometimes be dashed. But you, Moira, showed me that it’s a tangible thing and that I’ll be able to touch it one day soon.
I’ve said before that I’m not holding my breath for a Type 1 diabetes cure. (Blue, while being a big awareness color for diabetes, is not a particularly beautiful skin shade.) An artificial pancreas is not a panacea, but right now, I’m like that girl you see in old footage of The Beatles who passes out when the first strains of Love Me Do waft into her ears. I am swooning on shaky legs.
I want to thank you for this:
All these years of walk teams and gala donations and scraping together what we can for friend’s efforts and asking my friends over and over to give and give more?
It’s not just pie in the sky. On Wednesday, I looked at what those donations have done for Lauren and the world. It’s real. The hope is real. I freaking held hope in the palm of my hand.
All those walk teams? Those donations? What you held in your hand?
You, and all those moms and dads who watch over us?
You never gave up.
You never gave up hope.
And because of that, we’ll all be able to hold it in our hands soon.
Thank you.
