New aid for victims of diabetes

Press, 4 December 1979, Page 9

New aid for victims of diabetes

NZPA Perth Thousands of diabetes sufferers may soon be able to ,avoid the daily chore of injecting themselves with insulin. Researchers at the University of Western Australia are confident they will be able to develop an easier and better way for diabetics to obtain the necessary insulin by early next year. The alternative to a bulky needle and bottle is a small box about the size of a cigarette pack attached to the skin.

i In it will be a microprokessor, carefully programmed to suit the wearer’s needs, :and a highly concentrated supply of insulin. Instead of having to inject themselves with a relatively large amount of insulin at least once a day many diabetics will have a tiny plastic needle permanently attached to a vein.

This will allow just the right amount of insulin through gradually. Dr Jiannis Attikiouzel, of the university’s electronic engineering department, said that a prototype would probably be ready by late next month.

“Several centres through|out the world and Australia are working on the use of ! micro-processors for insulin linfusion,” he said. “But we! believe no-one has yet pro-! Iduced a portable model! which is suitable for insulin: infusion as this one.” He said one of the infusers would probablv be given to ! the Garvin Institute at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney for testing.

Dr Attikiouzel and one of his students, Trevor Marshall, began working on the project several months ago with the help of medical doctors. They have already developed a larger, though still compact model to replace the traditional drip system used in hospitals. A prototype of this is currently being tested at a large public hospital in Perth. For the many diabetics, especially children, who cannot control the problem with tablets and a strict diet I alone, this new method will greatly simplify treatment.