Diabetics Are Hacking Their Own Insulin Pumps

There is a revolution in the Type 1 diabetes community and thousands of people are now hacking their insulin pumps for better blood sugar management. CNBC's Erin Black, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 20 years ago, decided to try out the hacked system. Here's what happened.

Type 1 diabetes is a disease that affects more than 1.2 million Americans. I'm one of them.

It's a disease that impairs the body's ability to produce the hormone insulin, which normally comes from the pancreas. So insulin has to be injected.

Managing blood sugars can be very difficult, and patients use a pump to help mimic the activity of the pancreas. However, pumps don't automatically adjust insulin levels for diabetics. And the manual process is tedious and can be dangerous.

But a few years ago, people figured out how to hack their insulin pumps to make them automatically adjust insulin levels more precisely.

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Hacking Diabetes With This DIY Artificial Pancreas

[Voltaic_Fire]

Of course the manufacturer warns against it, they're not profiting.

[tiarnancarey]

"It's like modifying your car"

yeah, kinda like adding a steering wheel because it didn't come with one

[MSkjel]

And people still think Right To Repair is bad for the world.

[Attaxalotl]

This shouldn't be branded as a wholesome "life finds a way but we find it quicker" story.
This should be presented as a showcase of just how much of a corporate dystopia we've got with our healthcare system.

[koolbuddy]

The DYI system was developed with care, to help someone in the family. The "approved" system is built to make money out of someone's misery.

[patrykzukowski]

I'm editing this comment because someone pointed out a very basic thing which is very important: pumps can't work like this cause insulin doesn't work instantly and if pumps would wait for sugar level to increase and only then give insulin you would have crazy high spikes of sugar levels throughout the day.

[murdelabop]

The manufacturer warns against using the hacked systems because doing so might interfere with their profit margin.

[KNOTTYBUDS]

Of course. Someone puts the technology out for free, and then a company makes the same thing for $7, 000 without insurance. That's some bull.

[McKaylaGamez]

The dude who patented insulin literally made it free because it was so important to him that it helped people. The US said: screw the people who need this, it costs $300

Edit: I’m American, please stop the arguments now, some of y’all are too rude. I myself am gonna back away from the arguments so please stop.

[sabriath]

A company that profits off of selling the same system is telling you that a DIY venture is dangerous and trying to put fear in people? Shocker

[jacobcallahan]

This is the most American thing and so insanely sad that people have to do this just to live

[ChosenCreator]

"I'm hungry and I want to buy this apple."
"Do you have hunger insurance?"
"No."
"Then it will cost you $120"
"I'll just grow my own apples."
"But that's dangerous. Ours are FDA approved."

[Zeratul]

7000$ for a fda closed loop insulin pump GTFO

[osakoedward]

The "DIY car" analogy is just short for "we don't want you eating into our profits".

[SamiTheAnxiousBean]

the fact that people have to hack their devices just make themselves a better device to use and the pharmacy tech is attempting to stop that just shows how much of a corporate dystopia we live in

[bm]

"its like moding your car" says the drug rep whos company charges 7k for a raspberry pi

[jag]

Can’t believe the price of the FDA approved pump. $7000

[ShealMB]

"it's almost like modifying your car" uh no, it's because you want to make your 7k per unit...the DIY is way cheaper at 150/200 $

Hence the reason why they are also trying to close the back door on the new devices as well.

EDIT: Thanks for all the thumbs up and comments!

[hertz]

As an electrical engineer, I understand that a professional medical product has to be developed, safe and certified. It would absolutely fine if they charged multiple hundred dollars. But 7000?!?

[ericmeehan]

This journalist did an extremely thorough investigation, she did a great job sharing all of the different perspectives.