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Endocrine Abstracts (2015) 37 S26.3 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.37.S26.3

Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.


The artificial pancreas or closed loop is the holy grail of diabetes technology. The concept has been around for decennia, but only as more or less accurate continuous glucose monitors became available some 10–15 years ago, patient related research could be initiated. The essential problem is the inherent delays in the loop. Insulin absorption, glucose uptake by the cell after activation of the insulin receptor and continuous glucose monitoring all take time. Once administered, insulin action will be notable for several hours after administration and if too much insulin infused, this can’t be taken out of the body anymore. The efforts of the AP@home consortium, funded by the European Commission from 2010 to 2014, with ongoing activity in 2015, will be highlighted. It aimed at improvements in insulin absorption, closed loop control algorithms and continuous glucose monitoring. The name-giving aim of the consortium has been met; research is now completed and ongoing at the patient’s home, under free-living conditions, while research had not progressed beyond the clinical research centre at the start of the project. Remaining obstacles before the artificial pancreas becomes available in clinical practice will be discussed.

Disclosure: This work was supported by the European Commission, under the FP7 program, grant number 247138.

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