Scientists have created an artificial pancreas for diabetics that copy the physiological mechanism of controlling blood sugar in the blood, according to a report released today by the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Researchers from Boston University and Massachusetts General Hospital said the artificial pancreas system can maintain near normal glucose levels without causing hypoglycemia.

The system, which controls the combination of insulin and glucagon using advanced computer technology, was developed by Boston University and the first tests were performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital, it said.

“This is the first study to test an artificial pancreas and used both insulin and glucagon in people with type 1 diabetes,” said Steven Russell, of the Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital.

In this type of diabetes the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed by the immune system, making treatment necessary to control the level of the hormone in the blood.

Insulin control always involves the danger of hypoglycemia, a problem caused by too high a level of a hormone that can be fatal.

According to Edward Damiano, Department of Biochemical Engineering, University of Boston, the artificial pancreas can control the action of both hormones.

“Our system is designed to offset moderate decreases in blood sugar with small doses of glucagon during the day, as occurs in people without diabetes,” he said.

The study involved 11 adults who had type 1 diabetes and is carried out in order to test the software that controls the system.

To measure as accurately as possible the levels of glucose, the sugar levels were measured by a sensor installed in a vein over 27 hours.

The system maintained the blood glucose level in six participants and five experienced hypoglycemia and needed to drink orange juice to raise your blood sugar levels, the report said.

“A system like this could replace the need for patients to have to control their blood sugar levels and make treatment decisions every few hours,” said Damiano.

“It would be a cure, but may be a change in therapy that applies to type 1 diabetes,” he added.