Home » Treatment of Type 1 diabetes mellitus » Artificial Pancreas Artificial Pancreas is an engineered technological fruit that is placed in the ailing human body and it substitutes the wonder endocrine gland, the pancreas. The pancreas has several endocrine cells that regulate the secretion of two pancreatic hormones called Insulin and Glucagon in order to maintain the balance of blood glucose level. For pancreatic malfunctions which is an imminent effect of Diabetes, Pancreatitis and other endocrine diseases, there is artificial pancreas replacement surgery to substitute the defunct organ for a better performing one.

The insertion of Artificial Pancreas has gained utmost importance in those fields of treatment where the original organ cannot work to it's fullest in metabolizing the glucose for overall physiological up keeping. The malfunction of the insulin and similar ailments can have other forms of external drug based treatment avoiding the risks of artificial pancreas replacement. However the conventional safer modes when fail, the only refuge is to operate for the replacement and adopt to the effects of artificial pancreas replacement.

In order to have a general idea about artificial pancreas replacement we should have an introductory idea of the several methods of approach to the problem. The medically viable approaches toward Artificial Pancreas insertion are:

• Therapy by Bioengineering Tools: In this therapeutic approach a tissue that is commonly a mass of functional endocrine cells have to be engineered to be placed at a biologically potential site that is to carry out the regulated discharge of the necessary endocrine hormones, namely, insulin, glucagon, etc to administer the blood glucose level. This has proved to be an effective treatment for the insertion of artificial pancreas for diabetic patients.
• Therapy by Genetic Engineering: Gene therapy nowadays has proved to be an effective tool for this purpose. The engineering is targeted at the preferred sites with a few prime implications to abide. They are centered around:

1.A direct genetically engineered insulin can be orally administered to the patients to work at the target sites. 2.The cure for the endocrine cells can be done by direct placement of the Artificial Pancreas, which can be a genetically modified pancreatic graft. 3.Artificial pancreas replacement has proved effective with stem cell research transforming adult stem cells of the duodenum to the endocrine cells that synthesize and discharge hormones to treat the malady.

There are other approaches for artificial pancreas replacement surgeries that include implantation of glucose level sensors, insulin pumps and combined genetically modified insulin-amylin duo to combat the effects of a malfunctioning pancreas.

An understanding about artificial pancreas can only be complete with an idea of the effects of artificial pancreas replacement. Certain risks play foul aftermath the artificial pancreas replacement surgery. The most common risks of artificial pancreas replacement are:

• Pulmonary embolism is a common risk for patients having high blood sugar levels with insertion of Artificial Pancreas.
• There can be blockage in the vein causing a thrombosis.
• Hypoglycemia resulting in lowering of blood glucose levels can be an imminent danger due to artificial pancreas for diabetic patients.

What ever be the existing therapeutic complications Artificial Pancreas is however proving to be the best possible way in treating endocrine problems.

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