Synthetic Patch Helps Fight Diabetes Painlessly

For decades people with type-1 and advanced type-2 diabetes relied on painful and often flawed insulin injections to regulate blood sugar levels. There may soon be a new option - a synthetic patch.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University have recently devised a patch that delivers insulin-producing beta cells in an effort to help control diabetes. The thin patch - roughly the size of a quarter - builds upon the success of the “smart insulin patch” which debuted last year.

Tests in small animal models of type-1 diabetes showed a quick response to sky-high blood sugar levels and held the ability to lower them for 10 hours at a time.

"This study provides a potential solution for the tough problem of rejection, which has long plagued studies on pancreatic cell transplants for diabetes," said Zhen Gu, senior author of the study. "Plus it demonstrates that we can build a bridge between the physiological signals within the body and these therapeutic cells outside the body to keep glucose levels under control."

One patch to help millions

Over 387 million diabetic people worldwide must monitor their blood sugar levels on a daily basis. This monitoring process includes painful and sometimes inaccurate injections of insulin, and incorrect dosages can lead to side effects that include limb amputations or blindness.

By delivering human beta cells through the tiny patch, researchers hope to give patients the ability to manage their diabetes in a more pain-free and convenient way.

"Managing diabetes is tough for patients because they have to think about it 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the rest of their lives," said John Buse, co-author of the study. "These smart insulin approaches are exciting because they hold the promise of giving patients some time off with regards to their diabetes self-care. It would not be a cure but a desperately needed vacation."

Source: UNC Health Care