I can do that! New system could be a life-changer for those with Diabetes
Our weekly column with Liverpool ECHO columnist Tom Dowling - for people who won’t let disability get in the way
BREAKTHROUGH: The technology is often called an “artificial pancreas”
The lives of more than 100,000 people in England and Wales with type 1 diabetes could soon be transformed, thanks to new technology.
National charity Diabetes UK says the new system of managing the potentially life-threatening condition will be a life-changer for those people unable to control their blood sugar levels. The system – often called an “artificial pancreas” – is also being recommended for women with type 1 diabetes who are pregnant women or planning pregnancy.
Nikki Joule, policy manager at the charity, said: “Hybrid closed-loop technology has the potential to transform the lives of people with type 1 diabetes, improving both clinical outcomes and their quality of life. Type 1 diabetes can take a huge mental toll, with people manually calculating how much insulin they need regularly throughout the day.
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“This technology can greatly alleviate the emotional burden of diabetes. We look forward to it being rolled out on the NHS and will work towards ensuring that everyone who could benefit from this life-changing technology has access to it.”
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the health body recommending the technology, said the system improves quality of life and reduces the risk of long-term health complications such as blindness and amputations.
About 400,000 people in the UK are living with type 1 diabetes, a condition where the body attacks and kills the pancreas, the organ that produces insulin, the vital hormone that converts sugar into energy.
The system works by linking a sensor worn under the skin and an insulin pump that automatically calculates and delivers the amount of insulin needed.
Anyone can have their say on the guidance until Tuesday 31 January on the NICE website: www.nice.org.uk
Fifty thousand copies of the New Year edition of your FREE and favourite charity paper, All Together NOW! are being delivered to all your usual stockists. Bursting with news and information, vital for anyone affected by disability and long-term health issues, the edition is already receiving high praise.
One happy reader at Sainsbury’s, Great Homer Street, said: “I’ve been looking forward to this paper since Christmas. It’s perfect and always puts a smile on my face. I’m not on the internet and can’t afford to buy newspapers, so this is my lifeline. It’s like gold dust to me! Make sure you don’t miss out on the “gold rush”.
Copies are available in supermarkets, hospitals, and health centres. If you want to support the All Together NOW! charity, you can join the growing list of subscribers. For a suggested £20 (more if you can afford it!), you will be sent six editions. A subscription would even make a great gift for a relative, neighbor or friend.
The charity is based at The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool, L14 2EP. Tel. 0151 230 0307 or email: news@alltogethernow.org.uk
For more information about All Together NOW! visit the website.
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