Insulin to be boosted naturally, through a new drug

Scientists have found a new approach to treating diabetes. This approach involves slowing insulin disappearance rather than boosting its supply. This was achieved with the discovery of a molecule that inhibits insulin degradation.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type; it is caused as a result of too little insulin in the bloodstream, which invariably leads to high sugar levels and other health problems. Diabetes is intensive to manage, as many diabetics do daily insulin injections and blood sugar testing. But when it is left out of control, it leads to fatal consequences.

The research was concentrated on the behavior of Insulin degrading enzyme (IDE), as this enzyme is responsible for breaking down insulin. So to put on hold the behavior IDE will eventually prevent the degradation of the insulin, this is a therapeutic approach of interest in treating the disease.

This research was carried out successfully on mice. The mice were given the enzyme inhibitor and then an oral dose of glucose, stimulating the sugar spike experience after eating a meal. The findings were published in Nature