This puts their unborn babies at risk of a number of complications, including premature birth, obesity and even stillbirth.
Half of all babies born to mothers with type 1 diabetes have some form of complication, research suggests.
Stillbirths
affect very few of these - less than two per cent of all births - but
that rate is about five times higher than it is among healthy mothers.
Some
400,000 people in the UK have type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease
which means the body cannot produce its own insulin, stopping proper
regulation of blood sugar.
It usually first strikes in childhood or adolescence, and unlike type 2 diabetes, is not caused by lifestyle or diet.
People
with the condition usually have to inject themselves with insulin
several times a day, carefully monitoring their blood sugar levels with
finger prick tests.
The artificial pancreas enables this whole process is done automatically.
Scientists
found a way to combine two existing devices – pumps which deliver
insulin and glucose monitors – into a simple system controlled by a
tablet computer.
Blood
sugar is continuously monitored by a small sensor inserted beneath the
skin of the tummy, this information is sent to a tablet computer, which
calculates the right amount of insulin required, and this is pumped into
the blood stream via a small machine worn on the belt.
The
Cambridge trial, funded by Diabetes UK and the Government’s National
Institute of Health Research, found the devices improved women’s control
of their blood sugar by 25 per cent.
The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, need to be repeated in larger trials, but experts hope
the artificial pancreas could be available on the NHS within two years.
Dr Zoe Stewart, the lead author on the study, said: ‘Managing Type 1 diabetes in pregnancy can be really difficult.
‘Hormonal changes that occur in pregnancy make it difficult to predict the best insulin doses for each woman.
‘The
artificial pancreas automates the insulin delivery giving better
glucose control than we can achieve with current available treatments.
‘We are so pleased this technology is closer to being a reality for women with type 1 diabetes that want to have a child.’
The devices
have previously been trialled on children and adults, but this is the
first time that pregnant women - considered a much more risky group -
have been able to use the gadgets.
Dr
Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK, said:
‘Artificial pancreas technology has the potential to transform the
treatment of Type 1 diabetes, and could be particularly pivotal for
women during pregnancy who often struggle with managing their blood
glucose levels.
‘This
study represents a real breakthrough in helping women to take control
of their condition, and we’re very excited about the direction this
research is moving.’
She
added: ‘Diabetes UK have been investing in the development of the
artificial pancreas since 1977 when we bought the first machine in the
UK – which was the size of a filing cabinet.
‘Now we’re watching people use tablets or mobile phones, and it’s an incredible achievement.’
this is only for your
information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines,
exercises and so on.
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