According to the Singapore Ministry of Health, diabetes mellitus affects approximately 9.5% of the populationmaking it one of the most common chronic diseases in the country. Fortunately, the high global prevalence of the disease has led to much attention and funding being devoted to its research. Today, we have more than a few standard treatments that make it possible for a person with diabetes to live a good quality of life.
However, even with these treatments, diabetes remains a serious disease with many knock-on effects on patients’ health and quality of life. Additionally, diabetic patients who are not wealthy or do not have a close support network may find it extremely difficult to frequently monitor blood glucose and strictly control diet, let alone multiple insulin injections at intervals. precisions required in serious cases. Therefore, research on diabetes continues to be carried out, even in Singapore.
Today, several interesting treatments are on the horizon that can benefit diabetes patients in different ways.
What is diabetes?
Before we can discuss the advances made in diabetes, it is helpful to understand what diabetes is, which is the name given to one of two types of diseases that affect the way the body processes glucose (blood sugar). blood). There are some key differences between the types. Type 1 diabetes is technically an autoimmune disorder, while type 2 diabetes It is largely, but not entirely, a lifestyle disease.
Of those who suffer from this condition, the vast majority have type 2 diabetes and only 5% have type 1. In any case, treatments for both types of diabetes today mainly consist of lifestyle changes, medication and insulin therapy, depending on the specific characteristics of the patient.
New treatments on the horizon
Historically, managing diabetes has been quite labor intensive. As successful as these methods are, managing diabetes remains a serious challenge because skipping even one treatment could have serious consequences for patients. Fortunately, current research has led to these exciting advances that can further improve the quality of life for patients with diabetes:
1. Stem cell therapy
Perhaps one of the most exciting advances coming is the use of stem cell therapy to regenerate insulin-producing beta cells in people with type 1 diabetes. Transplanting stem cells that can become functional insulin-producing cells can reduce or eliminating the need for patients with type 1 diabetes to take their daily insulin injections, essentially curing them of the condition and significantly improving their quality of life.
2. CRISPR gene editing
CRISPR gene editing technology is being explored as a possible cure for type 1 diabetespotentially in combination with stem cell therapy. Researchers are now trying to correct the genetic mutations responsible for abnormal insulin production, giving patients the ability to produce sufficient amounts of insulin. This may bring them to the point where they need insulin injections much less frequently, perhaps even effectively curing them of the disease.
3. Artificial pancreas.
A artificial pancreas is an automated insulin delivery system that combines continuous glucose monitoring with insulin pumps to deliver insulin in response to glucose levels in real time. This system effectively mimics the function of a healthy pancreas, reducing the need for manual insulin management. While this is not a cure in the same sense as the two advances mentioned above, these devices are already significantly reducing the burden of diabetes maintenance and providing better outcomes for patients.
4. Smart insulin
Glucose responsive ‘Smart insulin is an innovation in development that could become widely available in the coming years. It is a new type of insulin that only activates when blood sugar levels rise and otherwise remains inactive when glucose is at normal levels. This would allow for more accurate and convenient glucose control without constant injections, improving the quality of life of diabetic patients.
5. Weekly insulin injections
Related to smart insulin, parallel research on weekly insulin injections could soon reduce the burden of daily injections by providing a slow, steady release of insulin throughout the week. This could help patients with treatment compliance and help them regain valuable free time.
6. Oral insulin
Convenient oral insulin is still far in the future, but it would revolutionize diabetes care by eliminating the need for injections, the biggest barrier to diabetes treatment adherence. The biggest obstacles researchers must overcome are the digestive challenges of effectively administering insulin in pill form and dialing in the correct doses for different patients.
7. Wearable insulin patches
Wearable insulin patches, which are already available in some regions, can come in two variants: ones that monitor blood glucose levels and others that deliver insulin when needed. Together, they can form a non-invasive and more convenient alternative to injections.
8. Gut Microbiome Therapy
Finally, recent research on the gut microbiome has shown promise in regulating glucose, which could reduce the burden of treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes. Interventions such as fecal transplants could one day help alter the composition of intestinal bacteria in patients with type 2 diabetes in a way that dramatically reduces their dependence on standard diabetes treatments.
The near future of diabetes treatments
These advances in diabetes treatment will provide millions of diabetes patients with a more personalized, less invasive and potentially curative approach to their disease. As research advances and the costs of these treatments decrease, we should see the quality of life of people with diabetes improve to a level far beyond what we typically see today.
If you have diabetes, ask your doctor about these emerging treatments. Alternatively, consider applying for local trials to gain access to cutting-edge treatments and give researchers the data they need to combat diabetes.
