Artificial Pancreas Lets Kids Be Kids.

• Position: TYPE 1 DIABETES

A new artificial pancreas system--which automatically monitors and regulates blood glucose--is safe and effective at managing these levels in children as young as age six with type 1 diabetes, according to a clinical trial at four pediatric diabetes centers.

"Fewer than one in five children with type 1 diabetes are able to successfully keep their blood glucose in a healthy range with current treatment, which may have serious consequences on their long-term health and quality of life," says Guillermo Arreaza-Rubin, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases' Diabetes Technology Program and project scientist for the study.

"Earlier research showed that the system tested in this study was safe and effective for people ages 14 and older. This trial now shows us this system works in a real world setting with younger children."

The artificial pancreas, also known as closed-loop control, is an "all-in-one" diabetes management system that tracks blood glucose levels using a...