Scientists have developed the "holy grail" of insulins that respond to changing blood sugar levels in real-time and could revolutionize the treatment of millions of people with type 1 diabetes worldwide.
Currently, patients must give themselves synthetic insulin up to 10 times a day to survive. The constant swings between high and low blood sugar levels can lead to short- and long-term physical health problems, and the struggle to maintain stable levels can also affect their mental health.
Scientists have found a solution that experts say comes closer to curing type 1 diabetes than any other drug therapy: smart insulin that lies dormant in the body and is activated only when needed. Researchers from the US, Australia and China have successfully developed new insulins that mimic the body's natural response to changing blood sugar levels and respond instantly in real-time.
Standard insulins stabilize blood sugar levels when they enter the body, but once they've done their job, they usually can't help with future fluctuations. This means that patients often have to re-inject themselves with more insulin within just a few hours.
The new glucose-responsive insulins (GRI) are activated only when a certain amount of sugar is present in the blood to prevent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). They become inactive again when the sugar level drops below a certain limit to avoid hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). In the future, patients may only need insulin once a week, experts believe. | BGNES
