Research Breakthroughs are Changing the Future of Diabetes

Diabetes is an epidemic, affecting over 460 million individuals globally. Current treatments and lifestyle changes are helping people with diabetes manage to a certain extent. While innovation continues improving how this chronic condition is managed, the cure is the holy grail on everyone’s mind. In the meantime, research breakthroughs are changing the future of diabetes.

What’s Made Diabetes Easier to Manage Today

There are so many exciting things on the horizon for individuals with diabetes. Here are a few innovations making it easier to manage diabetes right now:

·       Insulin Pumps: Computerized insulin pumps have been a game changer for those facing multiple insulin injections a day. About the size of a stack of cards, it delivers insulin just under the skin and can clip to a waistband, armband, or bra.

·       Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM):CGMs are small sensors placed below the skin's surface that take your glucose reading at set intervals or on-demand and keep a record of the readings. Most nowadays also link to a smartphone for easy access.

·       Insulin Innovations: Insulin comes in different forms, such as rapid-acting, long-lasting, and premixed formulas. Each has various delivery methods, such as syringes, pumps, and pens.

·       Medications: Oral medications that target specific diabetes issues such as:

o  Lower blood sugar levels

o  Control appetite

o  Enhance insulin secretion

o  Enable your body to use insulin more effectively

o  Slow down digestion

What the Future May Hold

Pfizer, a leader in diabetes treatments, states that future diabetes solutions involve:

·       Bypassing glucose absorption in the kidneys. Instead of the kidneys filtering out excess glucose and eliminating it with other waste, it is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. A new drug class will block the type of cells responsible for reabsorption. In turn, the excess glucose will be eliminated from the body and lower your blood sugar levels.

·       An uptick in gut hormones. Incretins are gut hormones that travel to the pancreas to tell it to produce more insulin. While treatments that target an increase in these hormones exist, longer-acting ones are in the works.

·       Ditching the finger prick. Instead of pricking your fingers multiple times a day, imagine wearing a contact lens that can test tears and send readings to your cell phone.

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Other emerging treatments involve cell therapies, behavior modifications, and so much more. Individuals with diabetes can play a vital role in bringing the next generation of options to the market as a clinical research participant. To learn more about our enrolling diabetes studies hereat Rainier Clinical Research Center, contact us toll-free at (888) 478-8343 or visit our website today!

Sources:

https://www.everydayhealth.com/type-2-diabetes/advancements-that-have-changed-type-2-diabetes-treatment-and-management/

https://diatribe.org/biggest-news-diabetes-technology-and-drugs-highlights-ada-2021

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