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New smart insulin could revolutionize treatment for type 1 diabetes
Scientists have developed whats been described as a holy grail insulin that responds to changing blood sugar levels in real time, potentially freeing sufferers of type 1 diabetes from having to micromanage their own insulin levels hour by hour.
Currently, type 1 diabetes patients have to give themselves synthetic insulin up to 10 times a day. The ongoing struggle to keep insulin levels stable can take its toll on peoples mental and physical health. Experts say this smart insulin comes as close to a cure for type 1 diabetes as any drug therapy could”.
Smart insulin lies dormant and springs into action only when needed
Researchers in China, Australia, and the US have developed novel insulins that mimic the bodys natural response to changing blood sugar levels, writes The Guardian.
And they respond instantly in real-time, meaning a rollout could potentially revolutionize treatment for millions of people with type 1 diabetes worldwide,” with obvious ramifications for under-pressure health systems everywhere.
Normally, patients inject insulins that stabilize blood sugar levels when they enter the body. They do the job, but once theyre used up, so to speak, they cant help with future fluctuations in blood sugar levels. So patients have to inject again and again.
The new holy grail insulins are glucose-responsive, meaning they activate when blood sugar levels reach a particular level. They do so to prevent hyperglycemia �high blood glucose. When blood sugar levels drop below a certain point, they deactivate, thereby preventing hypoglycemia �low blood glucose.�
Patients may only need insulin once a week
Experts say type 1 diabetes patients may only need one dose of glucose-responsive insulin per week.
The scientists behind the research have received funding from various UK-based foundations and non-profit organizations to help them with their work.
Dr Tim Heise, vice-chair of the novel insulins scientific advisory panel for the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, emphasizes the amount of effort patients have to put into managing their insulin levels, as things stand.
Glucose-responsive so-called smart insulins are regarded as the holy grail of insulin as they would come as close to a cure for type 1 diabetes as any drug therapy could. The exciting development follows news that a group of Chinese researchers had effectively “cured” type 2 diabetes using advanced stem cell therapy.
These research projects, if successful, might do no less than heralding a new era in insulin therapy,” Heise said.
