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It has been more than 100 years since insulin was discovered. Insulin revolutionised diabetes management. It helped convert type 1 diabetes from a terminal disease to a chronic condition and made the management of type 2 diabetes easy. In the last few years, doctors and researchers have made many advancements in insulin formations and have given rise to inhaled insulin, rapid insulin, ultra rapid-acting insulin, long-acting insulin, etc.
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However, now experts have been trying to bring more insulin innovations like weekly insulin, oral insulin and smart insulin. Let’s know more about these innovations in this article and find out how far we are in their development.
Weekly Insulin
With weekly insulin, diabetes patients will only require one insulin injection in a week, leading to the need for fewer injections and better management of medications.
Weekly insulin may be available sooner than you might think. On Day 4 of the 82nd Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, the experts said that the two once-weekly insulins, namely Basal Insulin Fc (BIF) and Insulin Icodec, are currently in Phase 3. The results from the tests conducted so far have also been highly promising, especially for Insulin Icodec.
Oral Insulin
Experts have also discussed the possibility of oral insulin options, which have not been successful so far because of the large molecules of insulin.
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However, researchers said that a few options have been emerging, like oral nanoparticles (specially designed pills to administer insulin orally), oral insulin delivery system (a small device which will land in your gut and deliver insulin through a microscopic needle injection) and insulin pills.
These options are still in progress, and it is too early to say if any of these options will be successful. However, it is expected that we may have some reports on the research and development of insulin pills soon.
Smart Insulin
Smart insulin options will be meant to respond to glucose levels as and when required, meaning they will work when blood glucose rises but turn off when it falls. The main goal of smart insulin would be to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, regulate blood glucose levels and improve the quality of life.
Experts have discussed the potential ways in which glucose-responsive insulin could work. However, we are still years away from starting clinical trials for smart insulins.
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On a Final Note
Doctors and researchers are continuously trying to bring more innovation to insulin for diabetes patients. Some of these innovations were discussed by experts in the 82nd Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. They included weekly insulin, oral insulin and smart insulin options.
