16 January 2020

Type 1 diabetes patients at King’s College Hospital have begun using a new insulin pump to help manage their condition.

The upgraded tubeless device is attached to the wearer’s body, and a touchscreen handset with a simple interface, much like a smartphone, allows users to discreetly administer the required levels of insulin.

The device can provide up to three days of insulin delivery without the need for daily injections.

Ben Smith from Streatham [pictured right, centre] was the first patient at King’s College Hospital to use the new insulin pump. The sporty 37-year-old finance worker, who has completed ultramarathons and will be running in the 2020 London Marathon, has been cared for by the diabetes team at King’s College Hospital for the last 10 years.

Talking about the device, Ben said:

I’ve been using a wireless insulin pump for seven years and it has had a huge impact on my quality of life – [now] I can just get on with my daily routine. The upgraded system is just like a mobile phone so programming my meals is more intuitive and user-friendly than before. The data collected will help the team at King’s College Hospital to monitor my condition and allow me to continue managing my diabetes.

Ben added,

The diabetes service at King’s College Hospital is second to none. It’s progressive and has offered me innovative solutions to manage my condition and lead an active, healthy lifestyle.

Dr Pratik Choudhary, Consultant in Diabetes at King’s College Hospital, said:

We’re proud to be the first centre in the UK to offer this new device, which will help expand choice available for people with diabetes, including those on multiple daily injections who are using or considering the use of insulin pump therapy.

King’s College Hospital runs the largest insulin pump service in the UK and has long been at the forefront of bringing the latest technology to its patients. In 2015, the trust trialled an implantable blood sugar monitor that can stay in the body for up to five months.

If you would like to find out more about how King’s Health Partners are improving health and wellbeing for people living with diabetes and obesity across London and south east England, take a look at our new Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrinology Institute pages.