Improving Diabetes Treatment — The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has awarded $1.2 million to Dr. Rubina Heptulla to identify measures for improving the management of Type 1 diabetes with an “artificial pancreas.” Patients with Type 1 diabetes monitor their blood glucose levels multiple times a day by pricking their fingers each time and injecting themselves with insulin. The artificial pancreas (AP) technology seeks to address this problem by combining a tiny sensor that measures blood glucose and an insulin pump inserted under the skin that delivers insulin. But AP treatment is complicated by hyperglycemia, a spike in the patients’ blood sugar levels that typically occurs immediately after they have eaten a meal. Research supported by the grant will compare the effects of two drugs, exenatide and sitagliptin, in combating the hyperglycemia associated with AP treatment of diabetes. Dr. Heptulla is professor of pediatrics and of medicine, and chief of the division of pediatric endocrinology.
Posted on: Monday, December 16, 2013