Insulin Drops May be a Viable Replacement to Injections

Considering 11.7 million Canadians are either pre-diabetic or diabetic, the country’s diabetes rates are still rising. Researchers at UBC have developed a painless medication delivery system to make it easier for diabetics to control their condition and preserve their well-being.

The Li Lab’s research team has created oral insulin drops that, when ingested beneath the tongue, the body absorbs rapidly and effectively. This might eliminate the requirement for insulin injections altogether. Insulin and a special cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) created by Dr. Shyh-Dar Li and associates are combined within the drops.

lead researcher Dr. Li explains: “Insulin is a complicated molecule,” She continues, “In pill form, it’s easily destroyed in the stomach. Insulin also needs to be rapidly available in the blood, but as a large molecule, it cannot get through cells easily on its own.”

Dr. Jiamin Wu, a postdoctoral researcher in the Li Lab stated: “Think of it as a guide that helps insulin navigate through a maze to reach the bloodstream quickly. This guide finds the best routes, making it easier for insulin to get where it needs to go.”