Groundbreaking ‘Smart Insulin’ Adapts to Blood Sugar Levels

In a major breakthrough for diabetes care, scientists from the US, Australia, and China have developed a new type of “smart insulin” that adjusts in real-time to blood sugar levels. This innovative treatment could transform the lives of millions of people living with type 1 diabetes.

The newly developed glucose-responsive insulins (GRIs) are designed to remain inactive in the body until needed. They then activate instantly when blood sugar levels rise too high, preventing hyperglycemia, and deactivate when levels fall too low, avoiding hypoglycemia. This real-time responsiveness mimics the body’s natural insulin function more closely than any previous treatment.

Currently, individuals with type 1 diabetes must inject synthetic insulin multiple times a day to manage their blood sugar levels. This frequent dosing, along with the constant fluctuations in blood sugar, not only poses health risks but also takes a toll on patients’ mental well-being. Traditional insulins help stabilize blood sugar levels when injected but require additional doses to manage future fluctuations.

The new smart insulins offer a promising alternative. Experts suggest that in the future, patients might only need to take insulin once a week, significantly reducing the burden of diabetes management.

The development of this smart insulin has been supported by substantial funding, including millions in grants from the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge—a collaboration between Diabetes UK, JDRF, and the Steve Morgan Foundation. The initiative is investing £50 million into advanced research to discover new treatments for type 1 diabetes.