A Glucagon Pump for Low Blood Sugar After Weight Loss Surgery
Glucagon Pump Therapy for Post-Bariatric Hypoglycemia: Merging Physiology and Engineering
This project is developing a special pump that delivers glucagon to help people who experience dangerously low blood sugar after bariatric surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Joslin Diabetes Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146766 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people who have bariatric surgery for weight loss and diabetes improvement can later develop severe low blood sugar, called post-bariatric hypoglycemia (PBH), which current treatments don't fully control. This can be very dangerous, especially if someone doesn't feel the warning signs. Our team is working to create a closed-loop system that uses a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to detect when blood sugar is dropping too low. When this happens, the system will automatically deliver a small amount of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar, through a patch pump to help prevent severe episodes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future studies would be individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery and experience recurrent episodes of severe low blood sugar.
Not a fit: Patients who do not experience low blood sugar after bariatric surgery or those with other forms of diabetes not related to bariatric surgery may not benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this system could offer a much-needed, effective way to prevent and treat severe low blood sugar for individuals after bariatric surgery, improving their safety and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Our group has conducted prior pilot studies that demonstrated the efficacy and safety of a similar closed-loop glucagon system in a clinical setting.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Joslin Diabetes Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patti, Mary E — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: Patti, Mary E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.