Forget about insulin injection! January 9, 2007
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Health, Invention, Medicine.trackback
Nowadays, type 1 diabetes can only be treated with insulin (of course blood level monitoring is also needed). Apart from the common subcutaneous injections, it is also possible to deliver insulin by an pump or with an inhaled powder. But now:
Scientists in Taiwan are reporting development of a nanoparticle drug delivery system that shows promise as a potential way to administer insulin and perhaps other protein-based drugs by mouth rather than injection or nasal sprays.
In their new research, in ACS’ Biomacromolecules, a monthly journal, researchers describe loading insulin into nanospheres made from chitosan, a natural carbohydrate polymer material obtained commercially from shells of shrimp that is nontoxic and biocompatible. When given to diabetic laboratory rats, the insulin-loaded nanoparticles successfully reduced blood sugar levels in the animals.
It could be a great help for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, a real change in their life-style.
Well, aside from insulin, pancreas transplant and islet-cell transplant can also be attempted, although they’re rarely used.