Diabetes is a disease that affects 21.1% of adults in Malaysia in 2024 according to data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Taking insulin injections is necessary for Type 1 diabetics to survive and it is painful. Therefore, researchers from the School of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Zhejiang University have successfully developed insulin that can be taken using a gel that is applied to the surface of the skin.
To secrete insulin into the body, a marine polymer called OP has been developed. In tests conducted on pigs and mice, sugar levels in the body can be reduced within an hour after the insulin is applied.
Although effective, researchers say it still needs to be tested on humans to see the safe dose. Giving too much or too little can be life-threatening to patients. The disadvantage of insulin in gel form is that it takes longer to be absorbed by the skin. So it cannot reduce blood sugar levels as quickly as injections.
The study was published in the journal Nature.
