Breakthrough in insulin delivery: Topical treatment shows promise
Scientists develop topical insulin treatment, potentially ending needle injections for diabetes.
Why it matters
- Could eliminate the need for invasive insulin injections for diabetes patients.
- Improves quality of life for people with diabetes.
By the numbers
- Tested on mice, minipigs, and lab-grown human skin samples.
- In mice, blood glucose levels normalized within an hour and remained stable for 12 hours.
- In minipigs, effects were comparable with normalization within two hours.
The big picture
- Potential for transdermal delivery of other protein- and peptide-based therapeutics.
- Minimal harmful side effects observed, but further testing needed.
What they're saying
- Highly moderated discussion focused on science.
- Personal anecdotes allowed in specific responses.
Caveats
- More research needed, especially human trials.
- No significant side effects observed in initial tests, but long-term effects unknown.
What’s next
- Further studies to explore applications for other biomacromolecules.
- Potential for broader therapeutic applications.