Oral Insulin as a New Horizon

Recently, a friend of a friend was talking to me about oral insulin and how it might be used in a person with type 1 diabetes mellitus. I wrote him a lengthy letter back and thought many of the comments were good to put here as well.

To start, I want to say that there are many opinions out there. What I think is just another opinion, but I also give information and answer questions with facts and references.


Oral insulin (insulin in a pill) is a target for several pharmaceutical companies focused on diabetes medication. Basically, insulin is a small protein that acts as a hormone to regulate sugar metabolism. Generally, diabetics that need insulin will take a shot (ouch!). Insulin doesn't come in a pill form because just like most proteins, the stomach acid breaks insulin down before it can get into the bloodstream to do its job. The idea behind oral insulin is that there may be a way to package insulin in a pill to protect from being destroyed and help save all those diabetics from having to take shots or wear insulin pumps. Will it work?

Oramed sure thinks so...

Dealing with the Adrenaline Rush

Type I Diabetics have a very familiar list of suggestions from doctors. The list usually includes exercising regularly, eating a well-balanced diet, monitoring daily blood sugars, taking medication as indicated, and trying to reduce stress.

There are many variations, but regular exercise is one of the items always on the list. ALWAYS.
Despite the eye rolling from patients tired of repetitive doctor nagging it’s very true that exercise is a great way for diabetics to reduce insulin resistance, improve blood circulation and immune response, and make the disease easier to manage overall. So you could imagine the irritation from diabetics that experience unexpected high blood sugar levels when they do finally go out and exercise. By all rationale reasoning, exercise should help lower blood sugar and increase sensitivity to insulin, but there are many times when the blood sugar level goes up.
Why does this happen?...

An Artificial Pancreas Could Sweeten the Deal for Diabetics

The “artificial pancreas” is making headlines in diabetic communities. People are claiming that it will all but eliminate diabetes from our existence. The JDRF campaign says it will be like becoming a “bionic” diabetic and many groups are hoping it will give more freedom to people living with diabetes.

But what is an “artificial pancreas”? And where do you get one?
The short answer is that the artificial pancreas is a combination of devices and technologies designed to automatically deliver insulin as needed using an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor. No surgeries. No extra drugs. As for availability, the US is running far behind other countries and you are most likely to see this system develop in Europe well before the United States at our current rate.

What's the big deal about insulin?

You've  probably heard the word insulin many times. You probably even know some relatives that talk about going to the pharmacy to buy their insulin. But do you know what it is or why they need it or even how they take insulin? You don’t!!! Well, then this entry is just for you.

Diabetics are the most common group of people who need and take insulin. I’m a diabetic myself, which means I have a chronic illness that causes high blood sugar. High blood sugar is usually caused by resistance to insulin or depreciated production (typically Type 2 diabetes) or flat out no insulin production at all (Type 1 diabetes). I’m a Type 1 diabetic, so my body doesn’t produce insulin at all, which means I need to give myself insulin manually. All Type 1 diabetics and even some Type 2 diabetics need insulin to control their blood sugar.

Insulin is a clear liquid that comes in a vial or sometimes a device that looks a lot like a pen. It even has a cap and button at the top! Starting from this point, I’ll try to answer some questions that people frequently ask me when they see my insulin vial or learn that I’m a diabetic.

HOW DO YOU 'TAKE' YOUR INSULIN? CAN YOU USE PILLS?
Insulin is actually a sensitive hormone made up of amino acids, just like proteins, so we cannot take it in a pill. Just like proteins, insulin has a three-dimensional shape that is important to its activity and ability to work properly in the body. Stomach acid has an incredibly low pH, which destroys the 3D shape of insulin and makes it completely useless to the body. So diabetics can’t take insulin orally without destroying