‘Smart’ insulin prevents diabetic highs — and deadly lows
In animals, the molecule automatically reduced blood-sugar levels without causing them to dip too much. Originally published By Diana Kwon , Nature , on 16 October 2024 Crystals of insulin. A new kind of insulin can modify its activity in response to glucose levels in the blood.Credit: Antonio Romero/Science Photo Library Scientists have designed a new form of insulin that can automatically switch itself on and off depending on glucose levels in the blood. In animals , this ‘smart’ insulin 1 reduced high blood-sugar concentrations effectively while p reventing levels from dropping too low . For people with diabetes , controlling blood-sugar levels is a crucial — but demanding — task. Insulin keeps blood glucose in check, helping to prevent the many long-term complications associated with high blood sugar, such as cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke and blindness . A large proportion of the estimated 422 million people with diabetes worldwide require insuli