A ground-breaking study funded by Diabetes UK has established the value of a strap-on artificial pancreas in treating Type 1 diabetes.

The device, which monitors blood sugar levels every 12 minutes and then pumps in the right amount of insulin, was worn by 24 adult sufferers every night for four weeks – the longest time by far without medical supervision – and resulted in the amount of time blood sugar levels were in the safe range being increased by 13.5%.

Diabetes UK described the results as “hugely exciting” .