Implant offers real-time blood sugar control for Type 1 Diabetics

(Web Desk): People with Type 1 Diabetes are constantly at risk of hypoglycemia, or dangerously low blood sugar levels. This condition can be life-threatening and is typically treated by injecting a hormone called glucagon into the body.

For cases where patients are unaware that their blood sugar has dropped to dangerous levels, engineers at MIT have designed an implantable device that can automatically release glucagon in response to a drop in blood sugar levels.

This device can also be beneficial in scenarios such as hypoglycemia during sleep or in diabetic children who are unable to administer injections themselves.

Daniel Anderson, senior author of the study and a professor at MIT, said the goal was to create a device that can continuously protect patients from low blood sugar levels. He believes this device could help many patients and their parents overcome the constant fear of hypoglycemia.

Researchers also noted that the device could potentially be used to deliver emergency doses of epinephrine—a drug commonly used to treat cardiac arrest or severe allergic reactions.