Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels, which can lead to a host of complications over time.

The most common way to treat diabetes is through regular injections of insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. However, these injections can be painful, inconvenient, and carry the risk of infection. Research into oral insulin is promising and may offer a new path to treating diabetes.

What is Oral Insulin?

Oral insulin is a form of insulin that is taken by mouth, rather than injected. It works in a similar way to injected insulin, by helping the body absorb glucose from the blood.

The idea behind oral insulin is to make diabetes treatment more convenient and less painful. Instead of having to administer injections several times a day, patients would simply take a pill with a meal.

How Does Oral Insulin Work?

Currently, insulin cannot be taken orally because it is a protein that is broken down by the digestive system before it reaches the bloodstream.

Researchers have been working to find a way to make oral insulin effective by protecting it from enzymes in the digestive system.

One way to protect insulin is to encapsulate it in a material that can withstand the digestive system.

Researchers have been experimenting with different types of coatings, such as chitosan and alginate, which have shown promise in protecting insulin from degradation. Another approach is to modify the insulin molecule itself to make it more resistant to digestion.

Once the insulin reaches the bloodstream, it works in the same way as injected insulin. It helps move glucose from the blood into cells, where it can be used for energy or stored for later use.

Benefits of Oral Insulin

The development of oral insulin could offer several benefits over traditional injections:.

Convenience: Taking a pill with a meal is much more convenient than having to inject insulin several times a day. This could improve patient adherence to treatment regimens.
Pain-free: For many people, the thought of injecting themselves with a needle can be frightening or painful. Oral insulin would eliminate this issue.
Reduced risk of infection: Injecting insulin carries the risk of infection, which could be eliminated with oral insulin.

Additionally, oral insulin may lead to better blood sugar control, which could reduce the risk of long-term complications such as nerve damage, kidney damage, and blindness.

Progress in Development

Researchers have been investigating the development of oral insulin for several decades, but progress has been slow. One of the biggest challenges has been finding a way to protect the insulin from degradation in the digestive system.

Despite these challenges, there have been some promising developments in recent years. In 2017, the FDA granted clearance to Oramed Pharmaceuticals to begin Phase III clinical trials for their oral insulin product.

The trial is intended to test the efficacy of oral insulin in reducing HbA1c levels (a measure of average blood sugar levels over time) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Other companies, such as Novo Nordisk and Biocon, are also working on developing oral insulin products. These companies are exploring different approaches to protecting the insulin molecule and ensuring its absorption in the bloodstream.

Challenges and Risks

While the development of oral insulin holds great promise, there are still several challenges and risks that need to be addressed:.

Cost: Developing an oral insulin product is a complex and expensive process, which could make it difficult to bring to market at an affordable price.
Efficacy: Ensuring that oral insulin is as effective as injected insulin is crucial. If it does not work as well as injected insulin, it may not be a viable treatment option.
Safety: As with any pharmaceutical product, safety is an important factor. Researchers must ensure that oral insulin is safe for use and does not carry any unexpected risks or side effects.

Conclusion

While oral insulin is not yet widely available, the progress made by researchers in recent years is promising.

If an effective and safe oral insulin product can be developed, it could offer a more convenient and less painful way to treat diabetes, helping to improve patient adherence and reduce the risk of long-term complications.