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Key Points

MIT researchers have developed a breakthrough implant that could save diabetics from dangerous low blood sugar episodes. The quarter-sized device automatically releases glucagon when needed, eliminating emergency injections. It works wirelessly with glucose monitors and can also deliver epinephrine for allergic reactions. The implant could be life-changing for those who experience nocturnal hypoglycemia or young diabetic patients.

Key Points: MIT Develops Implantable Device to Prevent Diabetic Hypoglycemia

  • MIT's implant auto-releases glucagon during hypoglycemia
  • 3D-printed polymer reservoir stores emergency doses
  • Wireless glucose monitor triggers drug release
  • Also tested for epinephrine delivery in allergic reactions
2 min read

New implantable device to save diabetics from dangerously low blood sugar

MIT researchers create a quarter-sized implant that automatically releases glucagon to prevent life-threatening low blood sugar in diabetics.

"This is a small, emergency-event device that can be placed under the skin, where it is ready to act if the patient’s blood sugar drops too low. - Daniel Anderson, MIT"

New Delhi, July 9

A team of US researchers has developed a novel implantable device that can save people with Type 1 diabetes from developing hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, which can be life-threatening.

When glucose levels become extremely low, it creates a life-threatening situation for which the standard treatment of care is injecting a hormone called glucagon.

The new implant, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, carries a reservoir of glucagon that can be stored under the skin and deployed during an emergency -- with no need for injections.

The device, which is about the size of a quarter, contains a small drug reservoir made of a 3D-printed polymer. It can be triggered either by the person using it or automatically by a sensor.

The approach could also help in cases where hypoglycaemia occurs during sleep, or for diabetic children who are unable to administer injections on their own.

“This is a small, emergency-event device that can be placed under the skin, where it is ready to act if the patient’s blood sugar drops too low,” said Daniel Anderson, a professor in MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

“Our goal was to build a device that is always ready to protect patients from low blood sugar. We think this can also help relieve the fear of hypoglycaemia that many patients, and their parents, suffer from,” he added.

The device can receive wireless signals, and the drug release is triggered by a glucose monitor when the wearer’s blood sugar drops below a certain level.

After implanting the device in diabetic mice, the researchers used it to trigger glucagon release as the animals’ blood sugar levels were dropping. Within less than 10 minutes of activating the drug release, blood sugar levels began to level off, allowing them to remain within the normal range and avert hypoglycemia.

Beyond Type 1 diabetes, the researchers have shown that the device also has the potential to deliver emergency doses of epinephrine -- a drug that is used to treat heart attacks and can also prevent severe allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great innovation but I wonder about the cost. Most Indian families can't afford expensive medical devices. Government should subsidize such technologies for diabetic patients.
A
Arjun K
As a doctor, I'm cautiously optimistic. The concept is brilliant but needs extensive human trials. India's climate conditions might affect the device's performance differently than in US labs.
S
Sarah B
Wonderful news! My daughter was diagnosed last year and the constant monitoring is exhausting. This could give her more independence. When will it be available in India?
V
Vikram M
Hope our Indian researchers are working on similar indigenous solutions. We can't always depend on foreign technology. Make in India should include medical innovations too!
K
Kavya N
The epinephrine feature is amazing! Could help so many people with severe allergies. But proper training will be needed - many rural areas don't even have basic diabetes education.
D
Daniel A
While this is promising, we shouldn't forget prevention. India's diabetes epidemic needs lifestyle changes too - less processed food, more exercise. Technology alone won't solve everything.

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