Artificial pancreas offers lifeline to pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes
Technology trialled at Hywel Dda transforms pregnancy experience
HYWEL DDA University Health Board has introduced pioneering new technology designed to improve the health and wellbeing of pregnant women living with Type 1 diabetes.
Women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy are being offered an 'artificial pancreas' – a system combining an insulin pump, glucose sensor, and a mobile app running a sophisticated algorithm. This closed-loop system calculates and delivers precise doses of insulin before and during pregnancy.
Dr Lisa Forrest, Consultant Physician in Diabetes and General Medicine at Hywel Dda, said: 'Women with Type 1 diabetes often face significant challenges managing glucose levels during pregnancy. Poor control can lead to serious complications for newborns, including premature birth, high birth weight, and the need for neonatal intensive care.
'However, improving blood glucose control before and during pregnancy greatly reduces the risk of adverse outcomes, such as birth defects, stillbirth and neonatal death.
'This technology can be truly transformative – helping women enjoy pregnancy with greater confidence and less stress.'
The diabetes team at Hywel Dda underwent training in July and November 2024 and is among the first in Wales to routinely offer this innovative technology to women with Type 1 diabetes during pregnancy.
In December 2024, eight women in the health board area who were either pregnant or preparing for pregnancy began using the Ypsopump insulin pump alongside the CAM APS FX hybrid closed-loop algorithm.
Dr Forrest added: 'A 2023 study showed that women using this system spent significantly more time within their target glucose range. They also had fewer complications such as high blood pressure, gained less weight, and reported better sleep, lower stress, and more confidence in managing their diabetes.'
Michelle Jones, 36, from Milford Haven, is one of the first to benefit from the artificial pancreas system. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 19, Michelle had long been concerned about the risks pregnancy might pose.
'When I was in my twenties, doctors warned me how tightly my blood sugar would need to be controlled during pregnancy,' she said. 'The risks to the baby – things like miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth defects – were frightening.'
Initially using insulin pens, Michelle struggled to keep her glucose in the desired range. 'When I told the diabetes team I wanted to try for a baby, they monitored me closely but I just couldn't get the results with the pens. They offered me the pump as a trial, and my levels improved drastically.'
'The artificial pancreas changed everything. It gives you confidence. If your levels aren't in range, the system helps you get them back under control. It's given me tighter, more consistent glucose management.'
Michelle also praised the remote monitoring features, which allow her team to track her levels through the app and reduce the need for travel.
'They can download all my data remotely,' she said. 'I can have a phone appointment instead of travelling an hour to Glangwili Hospital. It's made everything easier, and I hope other women get the same chance I've had.'
A national rollout of the technology began in October 2024, with the goal of offering it to all pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes by March 2027. It is also available to women planning a pregnancy.
Mark Henwood, Interim Medical Director at Hywel Dda, said: 'I am incredibly proud of our diabetes team. Their work is making a real difference to women's lives. This technology will help make pregnancy safer, less stressful, and more joyful for women with Type 1 diabetes.'
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