Can Insulin Be Administered Orally to Diabetic People?

Currently, oral insulin is not widely available due to challenges with insulin degradation in the digestive system. However, ongoing research is focused on developing effective oral insulin formulations that can bypass digestive enzymes and deliver insulin effectively. Until then, insulin is typically administered via injections or insulin pumps. In this article, we explore the potential of oral insulin and the latest advancements in this area.

Progress in Oral Insulin Research

Oral insulin has recently been tested on baboons, and human trials are set to begin in 2025. If successful, millions of people worldwide will no longer need to inject themselves several times a day, significantly improving their quality of life.

Challenges with Current Insulin Administration

Insulin delivered via syringes and needles doesn't always get directly to the liver and can cause some side effects. This is why oral insulin, once perfected, could be a better solution for diabetes management. However, insulin taken orally is destroyed by stomach acid. To overcome this, researchers have encapsulated insulin in nano-carriers, each 1/10,000th the size of a human hair, which can be taken orally with food, including sugar-free chocolate.

How Nano-Carriers Work

Protected by these nano-carriers, insulin can pass through the digestive system and only become active in the liver when sugar levels are high. Enzymes in the liver then free the insulin from the nano-carriers, and it can enter the blood to reach other parts of the body, such as fat and muscles, to lower sugar levels. This process is similar to how insulin is produced by the pancreas in healthy people and distributed through the blood when sugar levels are high.

Advantages of Nano-Carrier Insulin

The new delivery method uses nano-carriers to ensure precise and timed insulin release. Unlike traditional injection methods, which can sometimes cause a sudden drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia), the nano-carriers do not remove insulin when sugar levels are low. This reduces the risk of hypoglycemia, a common side effect of professionally injected insulin.

Research and Future Outlook

The groundbreaking new method of delivering insulin has already been tested on nematodes, mice, rats, and baboons, and these animals did not experience hypoglycemic events or fat accumulation. Human trials are scheduled to begin in 2025, and if successful, the technology could be available to the public in 2 to 3 years.

Conclusion

The potential of oral insulin to revolutionize diabetes management is a significant step forward in the field of diabetes research. While further testing and refinement are needed, the development of oral insulin encapsulated in nano-carriers could provide a more convenient and effective treatment option for millions of people suffering from diabetes.