Clinical evaluation and preliminary studies on the use of an artificial pancreatic beta cell in juvenile diabetes mellitus.

A newly developed artificial pancreatic beta cell is described and its use in five children with diabetes mellitus is evaluated. This device can be programmed to bring the blood glucose concentration rapidly to a preselected level and normalize glucose tolerance in juvenile diabetic patients with markedly different insulin requirements. It is portable, can be operated by one person, and has been used to regulate the blood glucose concentration before, during, and after surgery requiring general anesthesia. The potential value of the device as an investigational tool is shown by demonstrating that regulation of the blood glucose concentration with insulin for seven to 24 hours does not alter circulating glucagon concentrations in the juvenile diabetic patients studied.