New pills and a patch are being developed that could eventually replace the multiple insulin injections most diabetics must endure daily to control their disease.
The number of patients who could benefit is enormous. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), approximately 3.7 million diabetics must take one to five insulin shots daily to keep their blood sugar under control.
Researchers have tried for years to develop an effective version of insulin pills, without much luck. In the past, insulin from pills was often unable to reach the surface area of the gut where most of the absorption takes place. In the event that the pill did reach the targeted area, it was often degraded before being able to enter the bloodstream and deliver its medicinal effects. But several researchers are now discussing technological advances that have been made in delivering insulin via alternative routes like pills, and even a skin patch.
Two different drug companies have pills that are still in the early stages of development–it could be two years or more before they hit the market–that already show signs of achieving some success. The first pill facilitates absorption into the liver and then the entire bloodstream. Maximum insulin concentration levels can be seen within 15 to 25 minutes–quite similar to the body’s natural production and release of insulin that’s seen in the pancreas. The second pill uses a type of technology that prevents it from being broken down before it reaches the bloodstream, fixing the old problem of pills that have failed in the past. Manufacturers found the greatest absorption when this pill was taken 15 minutes before the meal.
There is also renewed interest in using a skin patch to deliver insulin. This treatment involves a two-step process. First, patients apply an electronic adhesive patch powered by a small battery directly onto their skin. In less than a second, the cells on the skin surface are painlessly vaporized, creating important microscopic openings through which the medication can be delivered. Next, a small patch that contains a reservoir of insulin is applied to the skin as one would apply a Band-Aid. The manufacturer reports that during a 12-hour period of wearing the patch, insulin is steadily absorbed into the body. The patch is still in development and is not likely to be available for at least another year, but researchers are optimistic about its possibilities.
If one treatment doesn’t work, researchers say diabetics could try both methods. The patch would deliver the basic level of insulin a person will need throughout the day and night, while the pill could provide the extra dose that’s needed around mealtimes. Though it’s not yet clear which of the various treatments, or combinations of treatments, will work best, one thing is clear: either method would be a welcome change for the millions of diabetic Americans still suffering through daily needle injections.
