Pregnant women with diabetes given option for artificial pancreas device
Contemporary pregnant women with type 1 diabetes are benefiting from the introduction of artificial pancreas technology. This innovative gadget assists in regulating insulin levels, making the journey of expectant mothers with diabetes more comfortable.
The Hywel Dda health board spearheaded the integration of this technology, offering a ray of hope for these women. The system is equipped with a glucose sensor that calculates and provides accurate insulin dosages demanded during pregnancy. Additionally, the diabetes team can remotely monitor patients' glucose levels for timely intervention.
Mickey Jones, a 36-year-old resident of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, who is expecting while managing diabetes, expressed her sentiments stating, "It provides the confidence, that reassuring feeling, knowing it's going to help you regulate your levels."
THE REAL DEAL:
Implementing these artificial pancreas systems has a profound positive impact on the lives of women affected by type 1 diabetes during pregnancy. Here's a glimpse into the significant benefits they reap:
- Tighter control of blood glucose, a vital factor in preventing birth defects, stillbirth, and perinatal complications.
- A decrease in complications like high blood pressure, gestational weight gain, and hypoglycemia.
- Enhanced time-in-range (TIR) by reducing glucose variability, a challenge during pregnancy.
- Minimized stress and an improvement in the quality of life thanks to better sleep, reduced anxiety, and increased confidence in managing pregnancy with diabetes.
In real-world scenarios, the cohort at Hywel Dda University Health Board (Wales) reported positive results, including fewer neonatal intensive care admissions and better maternal health markers. The system provides flexibility and safety, allowing precise insulin adjustments during insulin resistance fluctuations and morning sickness. Constant 24/7 automated support stabilizes glucose levels even during sleep or unexpected changes in insulin needs.
This technology revolutionizes prenatal care for type 1 diabetes, tackling both physiological and emotional challenges during pregnancy. Despite challenges, attaining trimester-specific glucose targets becomes more achievable with automated systems.
- The Hywel Dda health board's integration of artificial pancreas technology for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes offers promising benefits, including tighter control of blood glucose levels, a vital factor in preventing birth defects and perinatal complications.
- The artificial pancreas system equips a glucose sensor that delivers accurate insulin dosages demanded during pregnancy, decreasing complications such as high blood pressure, gestational weight gain, and hypoglycemia.
- Enhanced time-in-range (TIR) by reducing glucose variability promotes better sleep, reduced anxiety, increased confidence in managing pregnancy with diabetes, and an improvement in the quality of life for these women.
- In real-world scenarios, the Hywel Dda University Health Board's cohort reported favorable results, including fewer neonatal intensive care admissions and better maternal health markers, while the system's flexibility and safety allow precise insulin adjustments during insulin resistance fluctuations and morning sickness.
- This revolutionary artificial pancreas technology addresses the physiological and emotional challenges during pregnancy for women with type 1 diabetes, making it more achievable for them to attain trimester-specific glucose targets with automated systems.
