Let’s be one million percent clear from the onset: I, like the rest of the diabetes world, would love nothing better but to see a CGM communicate with an insulin pump for better control and to alarm the world when things derail. It would, and will, revolutionize the management of type 1 diabetes. But the more I speak to people newly into this diabetes world of ours, there is an inherent problem I’m finding with what is commonly being called an artificial or bionic pancreas. In speaking to people at the ADA conference this week my feelings were not completely unique. Inasmuch as many believe that a good deal of people completely ‘get it’, many also think that others might think this device will be almost like placing diabetes in automatic……and it is this thought of which I caution.
I, personally, hate the name artificial pancreas. It isn’t. Now it may be we get to the point of a rose is a rose by any other name but the device, as great as it will be, does not do things that a pancreas does…dispense glucagon being just one (although the plan is that the ‘bionic’ pancreas will some day). And in looking at ways the word ‘artificial’ is used, even when looking at an artificial heart, does it really fit, as is present, in our diabetes world?
When people think of something artificial, they think of it being as close a substitute to the real thing as possible. When these devices are hitting the market and ready to go in everyday use they will be fabulous. To me….TO ME (just me, my opinion), I think there is a better name for two electronic devices speaking to each other to monitor and dispense fluid than calling it something that it’s not; as darn good as it may become some day. Perhaps, Integrated Insulin Delivery And Monitoring System–The IIDAMS (hmmmmmmm marketing gurus just might have a field day with THAT name; ‘IIDAMS diabetes forever’ catch phrase….hmmmmmmm).
This is just me and I have never stated I knew any answers. What do you think? Do you think the name ‘Artificial, Bionic, AP, Electronic, Pancreas’, suits it? What would you name these devices about to hit the market?
Just a thought I had…..chime in.
I am a DiabetesDad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.