Thousands of people with type 1 diabetes will receive an artificial pancreas in the £14.1 million NHS rollout – meaning the end of finger-prick blood tests and insulin jabs
The NHS is offering thousands of extra ‘artificial pancreases’ to type 1 diabetes patients – meaning the end of finger-prick blood tests and insulin jabs for many.
Up to 270,000 patients will be able to get the ‘completely life-changing’ devices to control their blood sugar levels as part of the £14 million rollout.
The expansion follows a deal between the NHS and makers of the hybrid closed-loop systems, making them ‘more cost-effective’.
It means that patients who already use diabetes technology, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and insulin pumps, may now be eligible to switch.
In patients with the autoimmune disease, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates the amount of sugar or glucose in the blood.
Up to 270,000 patients will be able to get the ‘completely life-changing’ devices to control their blood sugar levels as part of the £14 million rollout (file image)
The expansion follows a deal between the NHS and makers of the hybrid closed-loop systems, making them ‘more cost-effective’
Professor Partha Kar (pictured), NHS England type 1 diabetes advisor, said it was ‘an important milestone’ for many people with type 1 diabetes
This can cause sugar levels to become too high, which can be fatal or potentially cause serious health problems to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart.
The device is worn on the body and continuously monitors how much insulin is needed to keep the patient’s blood sugar levels stable. This insulin is then automatically administered via a pump.
Professor Partha Kar, NHS England’s type 1 diabetes advisor, said it was ‘an important milestone’ for many people with type 1 diabetes.
He said: ‘The device detects your glucose levels, transmits the readings to the delivery system known as the pump, which then initiates the process of determining the required insulin dosage – improving medical care, but also quality of life for the affected is improved.
‘NHS trusts can access these devices at cost-effective prices, which not only benefits more patients, but also benefits the taxpayer through significant savings to the NHS.’
Earlier this year, NHS England instructed local health authorities to start identifying patients who will benefit during the five-year programme.
It has now increased funding sevenfold, meaning larger numbers of patients – including children – could receive an artificial pancreas within the next 12 months.
The expansion follows a decision by the NHS watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), to offer devices to people with diabetes who are not adequately controlled by their current insulin pump or glucose monitor.
Diabetes UK said the number of people with diabetes in Britain now tops 5.6 million (Stock Photo)
Diabetes UK has welcomed the rollout, having previously spoken about how such devices could ‘transform the lives of people with the condition’.
Policy manager Nikki Joule said: ‘Type 1 diabetes can take a huge mental toll, with people manually calculating how much insulin they need regularly throughout the day. By automating these calculations, hybrid closed-loop technology can significantly alleviate the emotional burden of diabetes.”
Children and young diabetics, women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, and those who already have an insulin pump will be the first beneficiaries of the program.
Officials said it will be a phased rollout over five years as specialist clinical staff build up the skills needed to prescribe the devices.
Dr. Clare Hambling, NHS National Clinical Director for Diabetes, said: ‘The NHS continues to lead the way in the care and treatment of people with diabetes and this is just the latest example of those efforts – by ensuring the cost-effectiveness of the latest technology, we can roll out these breakthrough devices to thousands more eligible patients over the next five years.
‘The technology behind the Hybrid Closed Loop systems will be completely life-changing for many people with type 1 diabetes, promising improved quality of life and clinical outcomes.’
