For many years now, the concept of an artificial pancreas – a machine that could replace the functions of the pancreas lost due to diabetes – has been appealing and sought after. Conceptually, it is so simple, and I often get asked: “If we could land a man on the moon 40 years ago or if we land jumbo jets with autopilots, why can’t we simply have a computer help dose insulin?” The answer is both simple and complex.