New Treatment to eliminate insulin injections

[skb]

A new study in mice uses a "capsule of genetically engineered cells implanted under the skin that automatically release insulin as required". The researchers feel confident that it can be replicated in humans and the product can be made commercially available in a decade.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/dec/08/new-diabetes-treatment-could-eliminate-need-for-insulin-injections

[Shanny]

I heard it said dozens of times before, and now that I need insulin injections myself, I gotta wonder what all the commotion is about them - all the research/development for an alternative delivery system. I understand there are people who are needle-phobic, but for most of the rest of us, doing the finger-poke for testing is about ten times worse than injections. So who exactly is all this targeting? 

[walkerwally1]

Well, I think the " automatically release insulin as required" part is what would make it most useful.  If it truly mimicked the pancreas then it would be a breakthrough indeed.

[rocky]

"As required" would mean that the secretion of insulin would be proportional to the rise in BG ? Right ?
I wonder how that would work. Would the capsules/cells be able to measure BG. I suppose, time will tell.

[skb]

That is a good question

I have no idea Rocky. The news article doesn't provide enough details of the mechanisms at play, but I suppose the cells would have receptors that would help them ascertain the levels of glucose in circulation.