4-year-old boy gets world's first artificial pancreas

A 4-year-old Australian boy has become the first patient in the world to be fitted with an artificial pancreas.

Xavier Hames has Type 1 diabetes and is at constant risk of hypoglycemia - when low glucose levels can result in seizures, coma or even death. But Hames was fitted with a pancreas-like pump that can identify when sugar levels are low and stop the release of insulin.

Professor Tim Jones from Perth's Princess Margaret Hospital said on Thursday the device would make life a lot easier for the parents of Type 1 diabetes sufferers, especially at night time when the risk of hypoglycemia is higher.