An implantable insulin pump for diabetics is a step nearer thanks to a
mathematical model that draws inferences from changing blood glucose levels. The
algorithm can be encoded in a computer program that fits inside a 30-kilobyte
memory chip, say its developers at the University of Delaware in Newark. Today’s
external pumps deliver a continuous trickle of insulin, but Frank Doyle and
Robert Parker’s program predicts the patient’s need for insulin every five
minutes. “If the glucose is going up quickly, the algorithm infers that a meal
has been ingested and the pump can respond quickly,” says Doyle. “Other models
do not respond until glucose levels are very high.”
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
The secrets to keeping your brain sharp in old age
2
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
3
Sperm have been made magnetic to allow IVF inside the body
4
Autism may have two distinct subtypes that vary by brain activity
5
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
6
Has the answer to life's origins been hiding in our cells all along?
7
Do turmeric and curcumin have any actual health benefits?
8
Arctic Ocean reaches tipping point that could be dire for marine life
9
Walking shark found in Papua New Guinea is new to science
10
The relationship recession is even bigger for Gen Z than we thought
