Insulin pills could alter diabetics' lives

By: Ronna M. Weyland

Posted: 11/12/07

For diabetic college students, a hectic schedule can be detrimental to their health. Missing lunch or eating a quick snack could shift blood sugar levels, causing the need for an insulin injection.

A recent research discovery by a Syracuse University chemist could eventually allow diabetics to cut back on the number of injections by just swallowing an insulin pill. And students appear to be open to trying the method one day, so long as it works.

A four-person research team led by Robert Doyle, an assistant professor of chemistry, may be at the ground level of testing a new oral insulin method, but Doyle said he is happy with what the team has discovered so far.

"Our findings back up the work other companies have been doing," Doyle said. "This is good because it lets (us) know (we) are on the right track."

Diabetes is a medical condition in which the body doesn't produce enough insulin, called Type 1, or when the body doesn't process insulin correctly, known as Type 2. The blood sugar levels in individuals cannot be regulated naturally.

Oral treatments as well as inhalers have been ineffective in the past, Doyle said. In January 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Exubera inhaler, which introduced insulin through the alveolar walls of the lungs. The fast-acting insulin method didn't work as well as expected and was pulled from store shelves.

The team's innovation attaches insulin to vitamin B-12, which protects the insulin while passing through the gastrointestinal tract until it reaches the bloodstream. Testing is still being performed on rats and involves finding a method of attaching insulin to the vitamin so that it remains in the bloodstream for at least 12 hours.

This new treatment wouldn't replace insulin injections, Doyle said, but it would help minimize the number of doses needed throughout the day.

Another method of treatment already on the market is the insulin pump.

"The pump can be complicated and expensive, but it works well for most people," Doyle said.

Sophomore Ashley Jerzak was first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was five years old. She started using the insulin pump at the age 11.

"At first, I didn't want to use the pump," the marketing major said. "But, my doctor told me to just try it temporarily."

Jerzak said after using the pump, she can't imagine using any other method. "I get a set dosage every hour," she said. "It delivers long-term insulin better for me."

She said she used to carry around a bag with insulin bottles and syringes, and then try and find a place to inject the insulin without getting a lot of strange looks.

Jerzak said she most likely wouldn't use the new oral method if it eventually hits the market.

"I don't think it would be beneficial for me personally, but I think it would be good for people who take injections," she said. "It's definitely a step forward for diabetics."

The pump's convenience and small size is a big selling point for insulin users.

Senior Tina Lee Edrehi, also a diabetic, said the pump works well for her hectic schedule and gives her more control.

"I don't need to have a set schedule with the insulin pump," said the acting major, who is currently studying in New York City. "When I eat, I can manually adjust my insulin dosage."

She said any method that doesn't require injections is worth trying.

"I would rather swallow a pill than stick myself with needles," Edrehi said. "I'm open to trying any new means of treatment as long as it works."

Doyle's treatment would make a better long-term treatment than many other methods available, he said. It would be "something that can give diabetics a more tailored basal therapy," he said.

Normal insulin levels come from the pancreas as it secretes the insulin. Basal therapy uses the benefits of long-acting insulin within the body to maintain a stable insulin level in between doses.

A basal-bolus regimen helps control glucose levels and is especially effective in Type 2 diabetes to maintain and achieve blood sugar control. Bolus insulin is usually given before a main meal. This type is needed in order to deal with the rise in sugar levels after eating, Doyle said.

"This new treatment would give the body a low-level basal insulin that the body needs to keep the body's organs functioning," he said.

However, Doyle said this method wouldn't be ideal for all diabetics.

"The pill takes two hours to work," he said. "If someone goes into insulin shock and needs treatment right away, this method won't work."