What will the future of diabetes look like? |
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Diabetes research is entering a purple patch, with type 1 and type 2 diabetes treatment avenues using remarkable science to improve management of the condition.
Ever heard of a doughnut-shaped vortex ring? Don’t worry if you haven’t – we hadn’t either until yesterday. But Cornell University researchers developed this technology which could be used to make islet cell encapsulation therapy more effective for type 1 diabetes.
As a result, the health of islet cells could be improved as nutrients that the cells need from the body take less time to reach them. It really is fascinating stuff, and a tremendous treatment option for type 1 diabetes.
Meanwhile, leading pharmaceutical firm Sanofi has joined forces with Google’s sister company, Verily Life Sciences, to focus on improving the lives of people with type 2 diabetes.
The deal will use Verily’s (which used to be known as Google Life Sciences) experience in miniaturised electronics and Sanofi’s expertise in bringing innovative treatments for people with diabetes. Hopefully they will cook up some innovations that can make blood glucose management easier, and reduce the risk of both long-term and short-term complications.
For people with type 1 diabetes and some with type 2, hypos can be a regularly frustrating part of diabetes management. While there are many ways of monitoring blood sugar levels, we are particularly excited about this new smart contact lens.
So as you can see, technology is continually evolving in the fight against diabetes. If you’ve seen any other exciting developments, share them with the 214,000+ members of the Diabetes Forum.
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