Medicine & healthcare

Scientists Create Pancreas-Mimicking Insulin

AUG 12 2024·Updated AUG 13 2024

Story

Image credit: Unsplash

The Facts

Researchers in the US, Australia, and China have developed smart insulins that mimic and respond to the body's natural response to changing blood sugar levels.
Emirates24
The novel insulin, which can be activated only when needed, could reduce the frequency of Type 1 diabetes treatments to just once a week rather than up to 10 times a day.
Daily Mail
The researchers at Stanford University in the US, Monash University in Australia, and Zhejiang University in China have been awarded over £2.7M to develop these "next-generation" insulins.
Diabetes UK
Funding behind the progression has been focused on six new international research projects to develop glucose-responsive insulin, including one intended to create an ultra-fast, short-acting variant.
guardian
Dr. Tim Heise, the vice-chair of the funding panel for the researchers, said the novel insulins could help diabetic patients balance their glycaemic control while avoiding hypoglycemia.
Express.co.uk
In 2021, at least 537M people worldwide had diabetes. That number is projected to reach 783M by 2045.
Statista

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

This development not only promises to reduce the frequency of treatments, but also to significantly reduce the risk of long-term health complications. Additionally, it could free millions of Type 1 diabetes patients from the constant need for glucose monitoring, thereby easing both physical and mental burdens of the condition.

guardian

Narrative B

While this treatment could be promising, accessibility and affordability remain critical issues. Only when older, cheaper versions of the drug are discontinued and unhealthy competition is checked can these game-changing insulins replace existing treatments and improve diabetics' lives.

STAT