Artificial pancreas tech recommended for thousands of diabetes patients on NHS

 

More than 100,000 type 1 diabetes patients in England and Wales could soon be offered new technology to manage their condition on the NHS.

 

The system uses a glucose sensor under the skin to calculate how much insulin is delivered via a pump.

 

Health assessors said it was the best way of controlling the condition, barring a cure, and a charity have said it would transform lives and was the “closest thing to a working pancreas”.

 

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, the health body recommending the technology, said a more cost-effective price was yet to be agreed with manufacturers.

 

There are approximately 400,000 people living with type 1 diabetes currently in the UK, including around 29,000 children.  Their pancreas produces no or very little insulin, an important hormone which helps turn food into energy, meaning that they have to closely monitor levels of sugar in the blood and top up levels of insulin every day of their lives using either injections or an insulin pump.

 

Professor Partha Kar, national specialty advisor for diabetes at NHS England, said “This technology has been proven to give the best control for managing type 1 diabetes and should make things like amputations, blindness and kidney problems possibly a thing of the past.

 

“The quality of life this technology gives to those using it is huge.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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