Diabetes Therapy: Tech vs. Biology

The writing has been on the wall for some time, and it seems that diabetes patients will soon receive easier and better care through mobile and nanotechnology.

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A tremendous step forward has been made in the treatment of this disease when a 4-year-old boy from Australia was fitted with the world’s first commercially-available artificial pancreas which automatically regulates his insulin levels. 

It’s easy to get excited, but we’re not there yet. The most optimal solution would be a microscopic artificial pancreas which could be implanted into the patient–or we could just improve on the tried and tested method of transplantation. This solution is currently reserved for those with serious diabetic complications, as the treatment has substantial downsides. Other possible biological solution in the near future could be treatment with pancreatic growth hormones or genetic therapy. Still, the technological solutions have one major advantage: The patients do not risk serious complications.