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Comment by baldfat | Hacker News Reader

Thankfully artificial pancreas are looking like a good option until we can get to curing type 1. Not only does it save the number of shots like pumps we have today, but it can measure the sugar level and keep the swings down to a minimum. http://www.jdrf.org/research/artificial-pancreas/

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They seem good as long as the patient's skin is not allergic to the adhesive used to attach it to the body. I know someone who had an insulin pump that worked perfectly except after a day or two, they would get a rash on the skin and the area would swell up blocking the delivery of insulin.

Nothing like all this great technology that could save your life that is foiled simply by the type of glue used by the manufacturer.

They go under the skin (Most of the plans I have read)

yeah artificial pancreas seems to be the most promising near-term development. the field has suffered from a lack of funding for translational research as VCs have been focused on other diseases, but hopefully that changes. semma (a startup turning stem cells into beta cells) raised $114M last week

Why are they focused on other diseases? Diabetes is hardly a rare disease, nor one with a low impact on its sufferers. So if what you say is true, what is it that's broken about the market for diabetes treatment?

I often hear it said that problems such as this are caused by cures being less profitable compared to drugs, because drugs are purchased repeatedly, cures only once. But competition is supposed to solve that problem. Is inappropriate regulation the real problem?

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