Type 1 diabetes patients need to inject insulin into the body several times a day which is a painful and risky process. But researchers from the University of British Columbia have succeeded in producing insulin in tablet form that will reduce the aforementioned risks.
In tests performed on laboratory mice, 100% of insulin in tablet form was successfully delivered to the liver without it entering the stomach. The tablet is not swallowed but placed between the teeth and cheek. Insulin will be absorbed from the cheek directly into the body within 30 minutes. It is then effective for four hours.
Insulin in tablet form was developed by Dr. Anubhav Pratap-Singh after seeing his father a diabetic had to inject himself for a decade. In addition to making life easier for patients, insulin in tablet form will reduce costs and also reduce plastic sides and syringe needles that do not dissolve easily.
Success is still in lab mice but researchers now want to start testing it in humans to see how effective it is. The study report was published in the journal Nature.