World-first Christchurch trial could change the lives of type 1 diabetics

A Christchurch paediatrician is leading a world-first trial of an artificial pancreas which could change the lives of type 1 diabetics.

Otago University researcher and paediatrician Dr Martin de Bock is hoping to make the gadget, which delivers insulin to the body to maintain the blood sugar balance, more accessible.

The Herd brothers, 9-year-old Nixon and his younger brother Oakley, are both participants in the groundbreaking trial.

They will no longer have to prick their fingers and use injections due to the gadget.

The glucose monitor in the device has an algorithm that automatically administers insulin as it's needed.

"It just pops it out there into me so I can live," Nixon said.

The device is life-changing not only for diabetics but also for parents, including their mother Keri Herd.

"When you have one child with type 1 it's like having a newborn and when you have two it's like having two newborns," Keri said.

Dr de Bock said before, they'd have to finger prick the boys and if it was in the middle of the night, getting back to sleep would be much harder.

Now Keri's able to just use her phone to check on the health of her sons.

The next step for the project is to secure more funding.

"The Dexcom sensor that we're dependent on in automation, that costs about $4500 a year… [we're] working on breaking down those barriers needed to convince PHARMAC that it's worth it."

For now, the Herds are grateful to be a part of this life-changing trial that could make it a lot easier to deal with diabetes.