Over 50 years ago medical technology introduced us to an artificial kidney. Since then, the movement has continued to yield a whole array of bio-artificial parts like: artificial blood, heart valves, replacement joints, and heart-lung machines. This begs the question, what's taking the artificial pancreas so long?

The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is holding a hearing titled "The Potential of an Artificial Pancreas: Improving Care for People with Diabetes" on Wednesday September 27th. Testifying before the committee will be: Arnold Donald (JDRF President and CEO), Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health Acting Director), Chris Dudley (former NBA star and founder of The Dudley Foundation), and Caroline K. Sweeney accompanied by her son Aidan T. Sweeney.

The hearing was informative, statistically sobering and technically effective. The emotional outpouring Caroline Sweeney gave in her testimony emphasized the forbidding stresses diabetes can impose on a family. I can sympathize with Carolne and empathize with Aidan. This disease can be controlled with minimal emotional collateral. Hopefully the hearing will trigger someone with the wherewithal to assign the federal funding needed to eradicate another heartbreaking testimony like that of Caroline Sweeney.