A six-month randomized, multi-facility trial demonstrated that an artificial pancreas system can more effectively control blood glucose levels in patients with type 1 diabetes than conventional treatments. The closed-loop The Control-IQ artificial pancreas system. Source: Tandem Diabetes CareControl-IQ technology developed at the University of Virginia measures glucose levels continuously and automatically administers insulin.

Test subjects used the artificial pancreas or a sensor-augmented pump (SAP) system with a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump that did not automatically adjust insulin dose. The researchers found that users of the artificial pancreas system increased the amount of time spent with blood glucose levels in the desired target range while the time in range in the SAP group remained unchanged during the trial period. The median time the system was in active closed-loop mode was over 90%.

The insulin pump with Control-IQ technology, now under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, uses Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring sensor values to predict glucose levels 30 minutes ahead and adjust insulin delivery to help prevent highs and lows, while still allowing the user to manually bolus for meals. The system also delivers automatic correction boluses, a feature not commercially available on automated insulin delivery devices.