Scientists have developed a “holy grail” insulin that responds to changing blood sugar levels in real-time and could revolutionise treatment for millions of people with type 1 diabetes worldwide.
Patients currently have to give themselves synthetic insulin up to 10 times a day in order to survive. Constant fluctuation between high and low blood sugar levels can result in short- and long-term physical health issues, and the struggle to keep levels stable can also affect their mental health.
Scientists have found a solution that experts say comes as close to a cure for type 1 diabetes as any drug therapy could: smart insulin that lies dormant in the body and only springs into action when needed. Researchers in the US, Australia and China have successfully designed novel insulins that mimic the body’s natural response to changing blood sugar levels and respond instantly in real time.
The new glucose-responsive insulins (GRIs) only become active when there is a certain amount of sugar in the blood to prevent hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose). They become inactive again when levels drop below a certain point, avoiding hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose). In future, patients may only need insulin once a week, experts believe.
This sounds quite positive though quite a few years away, which 😔
My partner is T1D. When I see stories like this pop up, I am hopeful, but I generally don’t share them with her because these revolutionary discoveries are always “x years away.” This sounds amazing and if it works as well as it sounds here, it would absolutely change lives.
For me the “coming out of dark ages” happened when freestyle libres came out and you didn’t have to stab your fingers all time. Oh what a glorious time that was. Hope to live long enough to maybe see fruits of this labours too.