Scientist have made a breakthrough in diabetes. Unfortunately the breakthrough isn’t a cure, but it looks like managing the disease is going to get a lot easier. It’s being referred to as a “bionic pancreas” and its a wearable, experimental device that keeps an eye on your sugar levels for you. Created by Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University, the device has already been through real world tests. By constantly monitoring your sugar levels, the device automatically dispenses insulin or sugar boosters on the patients behalf.

For now the device is only for Type 1 diabetes. Those with Type 1 must inject themselves with insulin several times a day or get it through a small pump inbedded in the skin. Type 1 is most often detected during childhood, so parents everywhere should be excited by the progress. Patients will still need to check their own blood levels a couple times a day to ensure accuracy, but the “bionic pancreas” will be able to handle everything else.

The device comes in three parts. Two of which are described as iPhone-sized pumps that administer the insulin and glucagon. The third piece is an iPhone which is directly wired into a glucose monitor. Three small needles go under the skin, and the other components fit neatly in the wearer’s pockets.

The AP spoke with Kristina Herndon who has a diabetic son that participated in the study. She was quoted as saying that her son “loved it” and “felt pretty badly giving it back” when the study concluded. She said before her son had to check his blood levels as many as 10 times a day.

Another study has been planned with 40 adults using the device over an 11 day period. The research team then hopes to create a next generation device that will have all three components combined into one. If that goes well, then they plan to submit the device for Food and Drug Administration approval. The AP quoted Ed Damiano, a biomedical engineer at Boston University, as saying “My goal is to have this device done by the time my kid, who has Type 1 diabetes, goes to college” which turns out to be in about three years.

It truly is an exciting step for those with Type 1 diabetes. The possibility to the end of constant needles and monitoring will give them freedom that they’ve previously never had. If the device works as well as its inventors claim it does, the only real obstacle will be the price.

Photo: AP / Boston University Department of Biomedical Engineering