Implantable device could save diabetics from deadly blood sugar crashes

(Web Desk) : The new implant contains a reservoir of glucagon that sits beneath the skin and can be activated in an emergency, with no need for injections.

For individuals with Type 1 diabetes, the risk of hypoglycemia, dangerously low blood sugar, is a constant concern. When glucose levels drop too far, the condition becomes life-threatening and typically requires an injection of the hormone glucagon as the standard treatment.

To address situations where patients may be unaware that their blood sugar is falling to critical levels, MIT engineers have developed an implantable device that holds a supply of glucagon beneath the skin. This device can be activated to release the hormone automatically when glucose drops too low.

The system could be especially useful during nighttime hypoglycemia or for young children with diabetes who may not be able to self-administer an injection.

“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,” says 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 hypoglycemia that many patients, and their parents, suffer from.”