"Smart" Insulin Set to Revolutionize Type 1 Diabetes Treatment
The Facts
US, Australian, and Chinese researchers have reportedly developed insulins that respond to blood sugar changes like the way the body would do naturally.
Getting activated when needed, this smart insulin may ensure that those with type-1 diabetes need treatment once a week — and not up to 10 times as they do now.
The Spin
"Smart" insulin could dramatically improve the lives of people with type 1 diabetes. Reducing the need for multiple daily injections to just once a week, it would free them from constant glucose monitoring, easing both physical and mental burdens. The technology aims to maintain stable blood sugar levels more effectively than current treatments, potentially reducing long-term health complications. It promises to simplify diabetes management, offering patients greater freedom and peace of mind in their daily lives.
While new "smart insulins" show promise, accessibility remains a critical issue. Despite insulin's discoverers intending it to be widely available, it has become prohibitively expensive for many patients. The problem, therefore, isn't about creating better insulins alone but ensuring affordable access to existing treatments. Strategies like discontinuing older, cheaper versions and blocking competition have kept prices high.
