Automated Insulin Delivery System: Better Control Day and Night
The automated insulin delivery system is transforming the way people with type 1diabetes manage their blood sugar levels on a daily basis. You may have heard of what this technology can do. It monitors blood sugar levels in real time and automatically adjusts insulin delivery. How exactly can it make life easier for you? And what role does it play in your daily life? Read on to find out more about this technology.
What is an Automated Insulin Delivery System
Many people with diabetes, particularly those with type 1, have pancreases that cannot produce enough insulin (or any at all). Is there an artificial pancreas that can manage blood sugar levels? Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems fulfil this role.
In general, an AID system consists of several parts: an automated insulin delivery device—typically an insulin pump, a CGM, and a smart algorithm that interacts with the hardware. The algorithms automatically adjust the doses based on the current glucose level monitored by CGM, and instruct the tethered insulin pump or the insulin delivery patch to deliver insulin at dynamically adjusted rates.
What Can You Expect from an Automated Insulin Delivery System
• Significantly improves Time in Range
Time in Range (TIR) is the percentage of time that blood glucose levels remain within the range of 70–180 mg/dL (3.9-10.0 mmol/L). It is widely regarded as a key indicator of daily blood glucose management [1]. It is generally recommended that most people with type 1 diabetes should aim for a TIR value above 70%[1].
By using automated insulin delivery systems, time in range improvement is thrilling. The researchers tested how helpful the AID system is for adults with type 1 diabetes. After just three months of using the Medtrum A8 TouchCare, patients' TIR(70–180mg/dL (3.9–10.0 mmol/L)) increased a lot from 59.08% to 71.59%, which is an improvement of 12.51%. More importantly, the number of patients who reached international recommended blood glucose control targets (TIR ≥ 70%) rose from 15% to 60%[2].
• A clinically major reduction in HbA1c levels
This improvement in blood glucose levels is not only rapid but also shows excellent long-term stability. In a six-month clinical study (Abstract 696) presented at ATTD 2026, 95 patients using the Medtrum TouchCare Nano System gained clear advantages over time. Their glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels dropped considerably from an initial 7.56% to 6.91% after six months, which is an average reduction of 0.65%[3].
• Reduces risk of long-term complications
When HbA1c levels are kept low over a long period of time, there is a big decrease in the risk of complications affecting the eyes, kidneys and nervous system. There is a clear link between better blood sugar control and fewer complications[4]. And for every 10% increase in TIR, the risk of long-term complications decreases significantly[5,6].
• Relieves the mental strains of relying on experience
Traditional treatment (multiple daily injections, or MDI) requires carbohydrate counting, insulin ratio estimation and manual corrections. The intervention of the AID system allows patients to think less about insulin delivery and focus more on their time with families and friends, which lessens the load on their minds.
Among these products, Medtrum’s AID system features the Automeal function, which further simplifies manual adjustments, reducing the need for precise carbohydrate counting.
Hybrid Closed-Loop System vs. Open-Loop System
An automated insulin delivery system is also known as a hybrid closed-loop system. And what is a hybrid closed-loop system? It features an insulin pump, CGM and an intelligent algorithm. Patients can manage their glucose levels through both the algorithm and their own manual adjustment. An open-loop system also has the same hardware but without an algorithm and communication protocols.
By using an open-loop system, patients can deal with the data and make decisions on their own. Based on their experience and current situation, the experienced patients tailor personalized strategies which are ideal for themselves.
However, an open-loop system is not such a handy tool for a patient using pump therapy for the first time. They must use their own experience to determine insulin delivery rates based on the readings provided by the CGM. This is a challenge even for experienced veterans.
Firstly, even if you are very diligent and check your blood glucose levels every half hour to adjust your strategy, this still cannot match the hybrid closed-loop system, which does the same things around every several minutes for you.
Secondly, while you are asleep, you cannot constantly monitor your blood glucose levels or adjust your infusion rate; therefore, you need to set the rate in advance for the duration of your sleep, and this amount can only be based on your best assumption.
Finally, you may come across situations involving illness, excessive stress or hormonal fluctuations (e.g. the dawn phenomenon or the menstrual cycle), in which the usual strategies may no longer work.
Overall, hybrid closed-loop technology is easier to get to grips with and makes diabetes management more effective. Compared with open-loop systems, AID systems have been shown to greatly improve time in range (TIR) and lessen blood sugar fluctuations among different groups of people with diabetes [7]. However, patients should still know about their own physical condition and watch out for any unusual symptoms, as the readings from the device and the insulin delivery may sometimes need to be checked or changed manually.
Please Note: Any adjustments to treatment regimens should be made under the supervision of a clinician.
Benefits of AID Systems in the Day-to-Day Diabetes Management
People with diabetes who require insulin treatment often experience fluctuations in their blood sugar levels. Blood sugar management during meals and exercise is one of the most frequent challenges in their daily lives.
During Mealtime
Depending on what people eat, their blood glucose levels can vary. High glycaemic index foods may increase blood glucose levels rapidly, while food containing large amounts of fat or protein may slow down the absorption of glucose, leading to prolonged hyperglycemia. In real life, many people's diets typically contain a mix of these nutrients. Also, their mealtimes may be irregular, and they may frequently attend social gatherings. This makes it challenging to determine precise insulin delivery times and doses.
During Exercise
In the case of exercise, physical activity tends to increase insulin sensitivity, and this may lead to the possibility of experiencing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) during and after exercise. How the body responds to exercise depends on the type and duration of the activity. To illustrate, continuous aerobic exercise, such as jogging, tends to lead to a sustained drop in blood sugar levels. However, high-intensity training and competitive team sports may cause unpredictable blood sugar fluctuations due to constantly changing intensity and stress hormones. Therefore, to reduce hypoglycemia, it is very important to check your glucose level and take more or less insulin accordingly.
AID System Intervention
Automated insulin delivery systems adjust for meals and exercise by continuously analysing real-time blood glucose data and modifying insulin delivery. An example is when blood glucose levels rise following a meal, the system will increase the amount of insulin delivery. On the other hand, when a decrease in blood glucose is observed during or following exercise, the system decreases or temporarily suspends insulin delivery to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia. Certain systems allow users to set temporary target values or activity modes, which offer additional management flexibility.
Start your Smart Automated Insulin Delivery System with Medtrum
In summary, the sheer number of unforeseeable events in daily life makes managing diabetes manually a considerable challenge. To address this, the approach to diabetes care has shifted from reactive to proactive management. In other words, rather than addressing issues after they arise, it is better to predict them and make timely adjustments.
With the rapid development of automated insulin delivery (AID) technology, these systems are now able to automatically adjust basal rates and deliver auto-boluses. However, the core aim of present-day diabetes technology should be to minimise the burden, rather than merely maintaining stable glucose levels.
Medtrum, for example, has launched Automeal, an advanced feature designed to simplify meal management and reduce reliance on precise carbohydrate counting. A study evaluating the TouchCare Nano AID system found that, among patients using the Automeal mode more than 70% of the time, their Time in Range (TIR 70–180 mg/dL) reached 75.0%, while the Time below Range (TBR<70 mg/dL) was only 2.05% [8]. Through all these advancements, AID systems are gradually approaching the concept of a true Artificial Pancreas.
Medtrum is not just satisfied with being a hybrid closed-loop insulin pump and CGM patch manufacturer. It has long been committed to artificial pancreas research, developing and manufacturing pump-CGM combinations with automated insulin delivery, and advancing more intelligent algorithms. The TouchCare Nano System, featuring the APGO algorithm, is a standout achievement from this manufacturer, helping countless people with diabetes to simplify their diabetes management.
Take control of your glucose with greater ease and confidence, and discover how Medtrum can support your daily management!
