If you are living with diabetes, you probably know how hard it is to take insulin every day and check your blood sugar levels at different times of the day. Sometimes, you may even feel tired with all this. But don't worry, because the field of diabetes treatment is advancing faster than we think. Scientists are now working to create an artificial pancreas that can sense our body's sugar levels and automatically release insulin accordingly. In the meantime, new medications and insulin devices have already come to our aid. These have made living with diabetes much easier and safer.
The important thing is that not everyone with diabetes is the same. What works for one person may not work for another. That's why it's great to have a variety of treatments. Your doctor can then choose the best treatment for you.
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Latest advances in diabetes treatment
Let's take a look at some of the latest treatments and devices that are being used around the world that are very helpful in managing diabetes. Some of these may not be widely available in Sri Lanka yet, but it will be very important for you to be aware of these developments.
| Treatment method / device | Simply put, what happens with this? | Special things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Afrezza (insulin inhaler) | This is like an inhaler used by people with asthma. Instead of injecting insulin, it is a device that allows you to breathe in a dose of insulin. It is mainly used to provide the body with a quick-acting insulin dose at the start of a meal . | This is a very small, portable device. However, it is not suitable for smokers or those with lung diseases such as asthma or emphysema . |
| Medtronic MiniMed 640G (Smart Insulin Pump) | This is a 'smart' gadget that connects an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor. It automatically stops giving insulin when your blood sugar starts to drop. It starts giving insulin when your sugar level returns to normal. | This is an important step in the journey to creating an artificial pancreas. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia , is a major problem, especially for people with type 1 diabetes. This device could be a lifesaver for those who have low blood sugar and don't even realize it. |
| Lucentis (eye medication) | This is a special drug approved to treat a serious condition called diabetic retinopathy, which is damage to the eyes caused by diabetes. This disease can eventually lead to blindness. | Previously, this drug was used for another eye disease (macular edema) in people without diabetes. Now it is also being used to protect the eyes of diabetics. This shows that new ways are emerging to prevent diabetes complications. |
What is an artificial pancreas?
Someone who struggles with taking insulin and checking their blood sugar levels several times a day might think how great it would be if there was a device that could do all this for them. That dream is about to come true with the Artificial Pancreas .
Simply put, this is a small device that works like the real pancreas in our body.
- It constantly measures your blood sugar (glucose) level.
- Based on that level, it determines how much insulin the body needs.
- Then, the required amount of insulin is pumped into the body at the right time.
This means that a person with diabetes does not have to constantly worry about their blood sugar levels. Some advanced artificial pancreases also have a second pump that pumps out a hormone called glucagon, which is used to raise blood sugar levels if they become too low (severe hypoglycemia).
But there is a big challenge with this. That is, in real life, that is, responding accurately to changing sugar levels when we eat, exercise, or become ill, and controlling sugar levels without them dropping dangerously low.
Think of it like driving a fast race car, not a regular car. Even a small mistake can lead to a big problem. That's why scientists pay the most attention to preventing a severe drop in blood sugar when developing these devices.
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The research doesn't stop there. Scientists are investigating many other things.
Better, longer-acting insulin
A great deal of research is being done to develop insulins that work more consistently and predictably than the current long-acting insulins.
They are also trying to make insulin that is more concentrated . That is, a smaller amount of liquid contains more insulin. What is the advantage of this? Think about it, some people, especially those with type 2 diabetes, need more than 100 units of insulin per day. A typical syringe holds 100 units. Then they have to inject themselves twice. If this could be reduced to one injection, how convenient would that be?
Stem Cell Research
This is perhaps the greatest hope for diabetes. Scientists are trying to use stem cells , a special type of cell that can become any type of cell in our body, to create insulin-producing pancreatic cells (beta cells).
If this is truly successful, meaning that the cells that make it can sense the body's sugar levels and produce insulin in a way that is appropriate for them, it could not only be a treatment for diabetes, but also a solution that could bring about a complete cure . Although this is still at the research stage, scientists see this as not just a dream, but something that could come true.
💡 Take-Home Message
- The science of treating diabetes is improving day by day, so never give up hope.
- Living with diabetes is now becoming much easier thanks to new products like insulin inhalers and smart pumps.
- Everyone with diabetes is different. Only your doctor can decide what treatment is best for you. So talk to your doctor about new treatments.
- Things like artificial pancreases and stem cell research may even cure diabetes in the future. So be optimistic about the future.
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