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Diabetic pregnant women offered artificial pancreas

Michelle Jones A selfie of Michelle Jones in front of a doorMichelle Jones
Michelle Jones was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 19

Pregnant diabetic women are being offered an artificial pancreas to help regulate their insulin levels.

Hywel Dda health board introduced the new technology, which promises to transform the experience of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes.

The system uses a glucose sensor to calculate and deliver precise insulin dosages required before and during pregnancy and the diabetes team are able to monitor people's glucose levels remotely.

Michelle Jones, 36, from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, who is pregnant and has diabetes said it "gives you that confidence, that bit of reassurance that it's going to help you correct your levels".

The artificial pancreas is made up of an insulin pump, glucose sensor and an advanced algorithm running on an app.

Mark Henwood, interim medical director, said it would help women make their pregnancy safer and less stressful.

Dr Lisa Forrest, consultant physician of diabetes and general medicine at Hywel Dda, said pregnant women who had difficulties managing their glucose levels risked "complications for newborns, such as premature birth, high birth weight and the need for intensive care".

She added: "However, reducing blood glucose levels before and during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of serious adverse outcomes, including birth defects, stillbirth, and neonatal death."

Hywel Dda University Health Board Four women sitting in front of a red and white hospital sign. Two are wearing blue hospital scrubs. They are smiling at the camera.Hywel Dda University Health Board
(l-r) Amanda Hunter, Dr Lisa Forrest, Ann-Marie Martin and Esther Turner are part of the diabetes team

Ms Jones, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 19, has benefitted from the artificial pancreas.

"My main concern was for the baby – things like miscarriages and stillbirths or you can get birth defects," she said.

When Michelle told the diabetes team that she wanted to try for a baby, she was using a diabetes pen but was switched to the artificial pancreas.

This allowed the team to monitor her blood sugar levels and Ms Jones said they "improved drastically".

She added: "Sometimes if your blood sugar levels aren't in range it gives you that confidence, that bit of reassurance that it's going to help you correct your levels. It's given me tighter control with my glucose levels."

Hywel Dda diabetes team can monitor Michelle's levels remotely, which means she can have a phone appointment rather than travelling to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen every time.

National roll out of the technology began in October 2024 with the aim of offering it to all pregnant women with type 1 by March 2027.

It is also available to any individual with type one diabetes planning to get pregnant.