More than 150,000 adults and children with type 1 diabetes will soon be eligible for an artificial pancreas on the NHS.
Experts have described the device as a ‘game changer’, saying it will save money for the NHS.
The ‘hybrid closed loop’ uses a continuous glucose monitor attached to the body to sense and correct blood glucose levels. Users will no longer have to inject insulin or measure their blood sugar levels through finger prick tests.
During clinical trials, the new system was found to be more effective at maintaining blood sugar levels than standard treatments. It will also cause less disruption to daily activities as it is fully automated.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that anyone whose diabetes is not controlled with their current treatment be offered a hybrid closed loop system.
NHS integrated care boards would usually implement this recommendation within 90 days. However, the need to hire and train new staff means the technology will be rolled out incrementally over five years.
Younger people and those who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy will be first to be offered the device. It will also be offered to those with a higher average blood glucose level of 7.5% or more.
‘A game changer’ for diabetes
The National Diabetes Audit 2021-22 suggests that there are 270,935 people living with type 1 diabetes in England.
Professor Jonathan Benger, chief medical officer at NICE, said: ‘With around 10% of the entire NHS budget being spent on diabetes, it is important for NICE to focus on what matters most by ensuring the best value for money technologies are available to healthcare professionals and patients.
‘Using hybrid closed loop systems will be a game changer for people with type 1 diabetes. By ensuring their blood glucose levels are within the recommended range, people are less likely to have complications such as disabling hypoglycaemia, strokes and heart attacks, which lead to costly NHS care. This technology will improve the health and wellbeing of patients, and save the NHS money in the long term.’
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