Researchers have developed oral insulin drops that when placed under the tongue are quickly and efficiently absorbed by the body, potentially replacing the need for insulin injections.
The drops contain a mixture of insulin and a unique cell-penetrating peptide developed by Dr. Shyh-Dar Li and colleagues."Insulin is a complicated molecule," explains lead researcher Dr. Li, a professor in the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences."In pill form, it's easily destroyed in the stomach. Insulin also needs to be rapidly available in the blood, but as a large molecule, it cannot get through cells easily on its own.
Unregulated glucose can be very dangerous, so diabetes patients must monitor their glucose levels and take insulin to lower it when necessary. While injections are the fastest way to get insulin into the blood, patients typically need at least three to four injections per day, which can affect their quality of life. Adherence to this regimen is challenging, and over time this can cause severe complications such as eye, kidney and nerve damage, potentially leading to limb amputations.
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