Australian boy fitted with world’s first artificial pancreas

Sydney, January 22: A four–year–old Australian boy has become the first patient in the world to be fitted with an artificial pancreas. Xavier Hames has type 1 diabetes and is at constant risk of hypoglycaemia — when low glucose levels can result in seizures, coma or death. But Hames was fitted with a pancreas–like pump that can identify when sugar levels are low and stop the release of insulin, Xinhua reported. Professor Tim Jones from Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital said Thursday that the device would make life a lot easier for the parents of children with type 1 diabetes, especially at night time when the risk of hypoglycaemia is higher. “Most parents have to get up two or three times a night to check glucose levels and this might make them feel a little safer at night time if they know they’ve got this automated system that’s going to prevent low glucose,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Jones said adults can also benefit from this new technology.  (IANS)