Artificial pancreas reaches 20,000 children in England

Patients must monitor blood glucose levels closely and inject insulin multiple times a day. The aim is to keep blood sugar within a healthy range.

More than 30,000 children and young people in England live with type 1 diabetes.

HCL systems eliminate the need for regular finger-prick tests and manual insulin injections, while helping to prevent potentially life-threatening blood sugar emergencies.

NHS England has agreed a five-year rollout plan with NICE, prioritising children and young people, people who are pregnant or planning pregnancy, and adults already using insulin pumps but still experiencing poor glucose control.

South Yorkshire ICB has reported one of the highest regional uptakes, with 77 per cent of eligible children using the systems—652 patients between April 2024 and March 2025.

Dr Allison Low is consultant paediatrician and clinical lead for diabetes in children and young people in South Yorkshire ICS.

She said: “Kids describe it as a game changer. Many who were initially hesitant often say, ‘I don’t know why I waited so long. It has changed my life.’

“99 per cent of patients enjoy it and continue using it.

“We worked really hard in South Yorkshire to be early adopters of HCL systems, but we are also really positive about the NICE guidelines, which provide a safeguard to ensure continuing access for our patients.”

However, access is not consistent.

Uptake is highest among younger children, with 68 per cent of under-12s using HCL systems compared to 59 per cent of those aged 12 and over. Smaller differences also exist by ethnicity and deprivation levels.

Dr Brian Shine, chair of the diagnostics advisory committee that assessed the technology, said: “We pointed out that certain groups have poorer access to technology and medical care.

“People from socially deprived areas, some ethnic minorities, or those who don’t own smartphones – which are essential for using HCL systems – are at a disadvantage.”

To address this, NHS England has funded pilot projects including the recruitment of family support workers in two South Yorkshire trusts, focused specifically on children from ethnic minority or deprived communities who are not yet using diabetes technology.

The systems deliver more precise and frequent insulin doses, supporting better long-term control and reducing the risk of serious complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke.

Children may benefit in particular, as they are often less able to recognise symptoms of high or low blood sugar and have less predictable routines.

Blood sugar levels that are difficult to manage can lead to long-term complications such as blindness, kidney and heart disease, or stroke. Although these typically emerge in adulthood, early intervention reduces future risk.

Dr Shine said: “Parents welcomed the recommendations. It relieves them of the mental burden of constantly monitoring their children.”

HCL systems also promote greater independence for children and reassurance for families.

Dr Low said: “People talk about trusting the pump enough to let their child go on a sleepover for the first time or return to gymnastics class – childhood things.

“Parents have faith that the system will be increasing the insulin or giving an automatic correction if needed.”

Dr Low said further improvements are likely.

She added: “The technology is still improving; we anticipate that it will become more accurate and responsive.

“People would also love it if pumps got smaller, stickier, and didn’t have to be changed as often.”