A revolutionary discovery for diabetics
A joint study by two universities in Norway and Australia could make insulin injections a thing of the past.
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Scientists from the University of Sydney and the Arctic University of Norway have developed an oral insulin as a result of their research.
According to the study published in the scientific journal Nature Nanotechnology, the oral insulin can be taken into the body in capsule form or by being placed inside a piece of chocolate via nano-carriers that are invisible to the naked eye.
Professor Peter McCourt from the Arctic University, one of the researchers involved in the study, stated, "Taking insulin this way is more accurate because it is possible to deliver the substance quickly to the areas of the body that need it most urgently. Insulin taken by syringe spreads throughout the entire body and can cause unwanted side effects."
Although many drugs are taken orally today, diabetes patients have so far been forced to inject insulin into their bodies.
McCourt explained that the reason for this problem was that insulin taken into the body via nano-carriers would be broken down in the stomach and therefore could not reach the areas where the body needed it.
CAN BE TAKEN ORALLY INSTEAD OF BY NEEDLE
The results obtained within the scope of the research, as reported by Independent Türkçe, eliminate this problem. McCourt said, "We have developed a coating that prevents insulin from being broken down by stomach acid and digestive enzymes. Thus, the insulin can reach the liver, which is where it needs to go, without its structure being compromised."
It was stated that the developed coating is broken down in the liver only by enzymes that become active when blood sugar rises. Nicholas J. Hunt from the University of Sydney, one of the leaders of the research, said, "This means that when blood sugar rises, insulin is rapidly released from the liver. More importantly, if blood sugar is low, insulin is not released."
It was reported that the new oral insulin was first tested on worms, mice, and rats, and then a test was also conducted on baboons.
The researchers stated that the new insulin method will be tested on humans starting in 2025 and, if successful results are obtained, it could be made available for everyone's use within 2-3 years.