Diabetes is a serious condition that requires daily care. It affects 29 million people only in the U.S. Unfortunately, the numbers keep increasing. That is why researchers have dedicated their time to finding new treatments for managing this condition.
Here are the latest diabetes discoveries that can pave the way for new diabetes treatment.
10 Latest Diabetes Discoveries
These are some of the most amazing developments that people should know about.
1. Implants that Produce Insulin From Stem Cells
The trials for a credit-card-sized implant began last year. The device ViaCyte’s PEC is an implant that contains cells that produce insulin. These cells are derived from stem cells.
Other studies showed that the implants could successfully function and mature inside patients. Many volunteers agreed to test the device to know if this product can help those with type 1 diabetes.
2. Completely New Beta Cells
When a patient’s immune system completely wipes out the beta cells in the pancreas that produce the insulin, type 1 diabetes occurs.
Well, according to research, a different type of immature beta cells have been hiding in our pancreas for all this time. Researchers believe that these exact beta cells could be used to restore the pancreas.
3. A Common Medication for Blood Pressure
The compound methyldopa is used for treating high blood pressure in children and pregnant women. But, according to scientists, this compound might be useful for reducing the incidence of diabetes in a certain way.
It could block the molecule that affects the autoimmune response and causes type 1 diabetes. Even though this claim is stuck in the lab, it looks like a promising find.
4. A Special Transplant
Thanks to an experimental transplant, a woman with severe type 1, managed to successfully spend a year without injecting any insulin. Researchers implanted cells that produce insulin into the fatty membrane and successfully managed to complete the operation.
This new operation paves the way for more of those with type 1 diabetes to receive an artificial pancreas.
5. An Intense Diet
According to a recent clinical trial, an intensive weight loss program could help those with type 2 diabetes lose a significant amount of weight and put their condition into remission.
The volunteers of this trial had to limit their intake of calories to 850 per day. For 5 months, they consumed mostly healthy shakes and soups before they were allowed to eat any food.
6. Contact Lenses That Can Monitor the Glucose Levels
These contact lenses are the latest discovery. They can check the glucose levels by monitoring the tears, sweat, and color-changing ink. This new method can be far less painful than drawing blood.
This could mean that such devices for monitoring the condition may not be so far off.
7. When We Are Lonely, We Are Prone to Diabetes
In a study where almost 3,000 volunteers participated between the ages of 40 and 75, researchers found that there is a close connection between loneliness and type 2 diabetes.
Even though more studies are necessary, being around people might be useful for preventing type 2 diabetes.
8. The Mexican Cavefish Evolved to Become Diabetic
This eyeless and pale animal evolved a different version of the insulin receptor. This new version makes it difficult for the hormone to bind. This may not be problematic for the fish, but studying its biology could help us understand how to deal with this metabolic condition.
Maybe in time, it could even help us find a solid treatment for the condition.
9. CGM Minus Calibration
SBP Discovery is a continuous glucose monitoring system that needs no fingerstick, manual data entry, or patient calibration. In other words, it could be useful for replacing traditional blood sugar monitoring.
The patient wears a sensor on the back of their upper arm for up to ten days. To get the proper readings, the patient uses a reader. But, there is no transmitter.
10. Artificial Pancreas
This latest innovation makes it more manageable for those with type 2 diabetes to control their condition.
It can stabilize the blood glucose levels and continuously monitor the glucose. This device is supposed to release insulin in response to the fluctuating blood sugar levels, a similar way the human pancreas does.
These new discoveries and devices are expected to pave the way for new more successful treatments to be created to help those with diabetes.
