The Artificial Pancreas Is on Its Way!

In almost every case of a new technology launch, insurance doesn't cover it.  It was true for the blood glucose meter, the pump and the cgm.  Everything takes a little time and effort to prove it's value.  

My husband sells health insurance, you don't need to tell me how bad it is.  He is the odd man out for his business as he would like to see change in the form of national healthcare.

A note levamir is not a lessor insulin than lantus.  I'm probably going to make the switch over, because it is less acidic.  Apparently you need to take a little more.  Less acidity may actually be better for many people with diabetes.  

Also if you are interested in SmartInsulin, the human trials would not cost you anything to participate.  I have heard rumors they may go to trial by the end of this year.  FDA is reviewing their case. 

Good luck and thanks for your comment!

Ann, Thank you for the info. I really did not expect to get a response with so much. I do not know what less acidic means for the insulin but we can ask the doctor. Do you know who to contact re: the trials for the Smartinsulin? Thank you again and tell your husband I am with him. 

I will promise to keep you posted on when it goes to trial!  I am actually meeting Dr. Zion on June 16th here in DC.  He is giving a speech on SmartInsulin for JDRF capitol chapter and I am introducing him.  

I'm sure they will not be able to enroll me at that very minute , but I will try to find out more info and I'll hit you on this blog to fill you in on anything useful.  Otherwise, either sign up for my posts or keep checking for further info.  

I'm also trying to shoot for that trial myself!

Exciting times are ahead of us!

Hi my friend!  

I did not see the piece on the artificial pancreas on the news. But read the article on ABC.com. The information is little behind as they have completed human trials.  The AP is in the review process with the FDA to go into mass production.  

Once they give it permission for production, I have a feeling Medtronic will be the company that rolls it out.  Because of the VEO, I think they are setting themselves to run with it!  

What will be needed now are voices to be heard by the FDA that we need this!  Keep an eye on JDRF (this is the link to the latest news for the AP) as they are putting forward a huge campaign to try to get this across to the FDA.  

I'll keep you posted as I hear them!

Hi Gary,

Dr. Zion came to DC and gave a lecture on SmartInsulin in June.  He explained that the polymer contains the insulin, as sugar sticks to the polymer, the polymer will release the insulin to cover the amount needed to bring the blood glucose level down. When the blood glucose level hits 80, the polymer will stop releasing insulin.  He also felt that this would more likely be a twice a day injection, depending on your sensitivity and control.

As for the Artificial Pancreas, I believe choice is so important!  The AP is not my personal choice either, but so many people have done extremely well on the pump and are really in need of something soon.  SmartInsulin is still about 4 years away from human trials. As you know, for some that's too far away to help.

Thx for commenting!

Ann,

I understand the technology to some degree but what I'm talking about is having the extra insulin floating around. Lets say you inject an additional 20 units above and beyond what you actually used for that time period what happens to that insulin? I am a veteran diabetic like yourself and have stuck with multiple daily injections sometimes taking up to 10 a day depending how things are going so even two shots is cakewalk but more importantly having the correct BS throughout the day. I stopped testing years ago due to cost and frustration. I still feel my lows and for the most part don't have a problem with hypos. Great right...Wrong! On the bad I am extremely sensative to the fluctuations and completely irritable from the highs even more so then the lows. With me even at 130 I feel like crap. Also sometimes I think I am low when I am actually too high and make things worse. Overall I usually am pretty good with detecting both though. From my understanding the Smart Insulin traisl should start sometime next year and if all goes well it would likely be 4 to 5 years from then before we'd have access to it. When your my age being 43 living with this for 34 years time is of the essence. FWIW I read your bio and found it amazing that this condition varies so much from person to person. I've clearly let it dictate my exsistence in every aspect of life. It's tough to wake up every day dealing with the pyhsical and emotional stresses that comes with erratic sugars. That goes without say the cost and overall long term health issues we may have to face. I think eventually there will be some of these breakthroughs for us and though Smart Insulin isn't a cure it certainly would be a huge improvement over what we have now. I know if I could just get up in the morning and feel well physically and mentally I'd have a totally different outlook on life. Take care of yourself and I'll be in touch .

Hi Gary,

Hope you had a great weekend!  

Ok, here's what I know, as for the excess insulin floating around the system it's supposed to be locked in these little polymers, so in fact the only way for the insulin to be released is from the glucose molecule sticking to the polymer.  Dr. zion did not go into detail about how much insulin you would take, b/c I think that's where they are still working.  

What Dr. Zion said is that they still have a way to go on getting their subjects to survive the studies.  He laughed and said to date nothing has survived their trials.  He is just getting ready to move from rats and guinea pigs to cats, he said it would be about 3 years before they could move to larger animals. (I'm a dog lover and all of this just kills me! lol!)

He explained that for each step they have to be reviewed by the FDA and approved to move on.  He was quite certain he would not be to human trials for at least 4 years. He said if he gets the funding and the clinical breakthroughs, the timeline could speed up, a little.  While he was here he struck a few donors for his cause.  He needs to raise 5M to really push the research forward.  I'm feeling confident that it will.  Too many people are interested in this project!

Ooohhh, I know just what you mean on highs and lows feeling the same!  Swing too much in either direction and you just feel like poop!  I would pay good money to have those days behind me!

I am emailing with DJ on this site and I made the same comment you did, it amazes me how differently this disease affects people!!  I'm healthy moving and ready to go and other people suffer such complications and not because they didn't take care! Really frustrating!  

I would love a trial to be done on those of us who have had the disease for 20-40 years, to see if they can evaluate what our bodies are doing differently.  That may even help to identify those who will most likely suffer complications down the road!

Ann,

Are you sure about the human trials??? If you watch the video and powerpoint that is uploaded with Dr Zion speaking it clearly looks like human trials should be starting in 2010. I know I'm not seeing things. The article from 2008 even expresses many trials have already been done in larger animals. In fact someone also posted something about Dr Zion stating it could possibly being available as early as 2014. If this is more like a decade away still I might as well pop a bottle of zanex!

LOL!!!  I was SOOO BUMMED!  Yes, he clearly stated 4 years until human trials, but I also got the sense that it may be faster once they work out the kinks in the next clinical.  Plus I think it comes down to dollar investment and until that relationship gets established through the JDRF's IDDP, he has to be cautious.  

No snacking on Zanex!  It will work out for us!  I believe because he is getting good press and lots of enthusiastic donors, it will happen sooner rather than later! My prediction, human trials in 3 and I don't think the process for approval will be as complicated as AP! So market availability could be 2014.  While Dr. Zion is working in the lab, let's just do our part and see what we can do to help speed the process!  So many of us want and need this!!  I'll keep you posted as I hear things!

A

Ann,

Like I said I have been following these guys since they publically announced the concept back in 03. At this point I'd be thrilled to have Smart Insulin by 2014. I actually called the company on the phone back in 2005 I think and emailed DR Zion who finally emailed me back a few months later. He obviously couldn't give me a difinative time frame with anything really but expressed much enthusiasum about the product and felt in the end It will be worth the wait. (like we have a choice). There are quite a few other therapys pending that could pan out as well but It's draining to continue to live like this. I don't have any complications other then I feel like crap a lot have bad emotional and physical distress and my sex drive is down the tubes. I promissed my mom back who I live with that I would be off Insulin before she passed away and now I'm starting to wonder if it will happen. I got lot of different problems but the diabetes is by far the biggest. FWIW if you find out any additional info let me know. Take of yourself and hope to someday see you on the other side....

Gary