Smart Insulin

[Darryl]

Just wondering if anyone knows more about Smart Insulin
www.smartinsulin.com (http://www.smartinsulin.com)

The idea is that the insulin is encapsulated in a way that it is released only when BG is high, so it's self-regulating.

So instead of having a pancreas, you have millions of little pancreas-like insulin molecules that won't be attacked by the immune system because they are not Islet cells.

Not sure if this is directly related, but describes the same concept:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070920160236.htm

If anyone knows more about the company that is developing this product, or the status, please reply!

[StillMamamia]

Don't know much about it apart the Science Daily article.
The mice's pancreatic functions were artificially suppressed, which is not the case for T1 people.
Also, why would they suppress all pancreatic functions, and not just the 'problem' area?
Also, inhalable, like breathing it in, right? Sounds like Exubera, what are the long term effects?
Don't know really what to think about it. But then again, don't know much about it.

[frizzyrazzy]

I don't know much either but I can't see how this would work for someone without insulin production of their own. You'd not want to constantly let your bg get high before you delivered insulin because you'd be yo-yoing up and down. It sounds, though, like it would be great for a type 2 who was still making a good deal of insulin on his own. This way the encapsulated insulin is only released as needed.

I'm glad that people are looking at new ways to do things. That is encouraging.

[Ali]

I was assuming it may be implanted so that you got instant release and almost instant absorption to the insulin. I assume in theory it would work similarly to how a non d's body does, with insulin being released in response to a rise in BG levels. I think is sounds fantastic if they could get it to work.I may be missing something though. :DAli

[thebestnest5]

Interesting. I saw a post about it almost 2 years ago. So, I wonder how it's moving? In theory, it would be wonderful, never letting the BG get too high or too low.

[danismom79]

That's an interesting idea, although I can't see how it would work properly.

How high would the BG have to get?
What if the BG never got high enough to activate it? How long would it last in the body without releasing insulin?
How would people know how much to inject? Would we be able to "set" the dose, kind of like an alarm?
What if we got a bad batch, like a bad vial of insulin, and it all released at the same time?

Too many questions...:eek:

[Darryl]

That's an interesting idea, although I can't see how it would work properly.

How high would the BG have to get?
What if the BG never got high enough to activate it? How long would it last in the body without releasing insulin?
How would people know how much to inject? Would we be able to "set" the dose, kind of like an alarm?
What if we got a bad batch, like a bad vial of insulin, and it all released at the same time?



From what I understand, the polymers would dissolve in a harmless way and release insulin when BG exceeded whatever the polymers are engineered for (90? 100?).

Theoretically, you'd need to inject the maximum daily dose you might need, but injecting more would not be of any harm.

Of course, this has not yet even entered phase 1 human trials yet. By the time we'd need to think about it, it will have been tested on hundreds of people in phase 1, 2 and 3 studies, and have to pass FDA approval.