Diabetes: New Optional Insulin Treatment

The University of Geneva has announced the arrival of a new future therapy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. There is talk of the first real alternative to insulin. The latter has saved millions of people with type 1 diabetes, but also more severe forms. However, insulin also has drawbacks: it is not easy to dose and in the long run it can cause metabolic and cardiovascular problems.

Diabetes affects 4 million Italians every year and causes 80,000 deaths. Here, with this new alternative therapy, the researchers have tested the effects of S100A9 protein. This substance seems to be able to significantly improve metabolism, in the absence of insulin. Back in 2019, it was certified that the S100A9 protein had the ability to regulate blood sugar, ketones and lipids without any insulin side effects. The experiments with this protein were done on diabetic mice.

It turned out that this protein works in the liver. It activates the TLR4 receptor, which is located on the membrane of some cells, but not on hepatocytes, the liver’s characteristic cells.

Gloria Ursino, lead author of the study

This means that the protein does not have to get into the liver to function. Its administration is thus possible with a simple injection. Insulin deficiency can cause a sudden increase in blood acidity and ketones. A disease that affects between 2% and 4% of type 1 diabetics each year.

In insulin-deficient diabetics, they found a natural increase in the S100A9 protein. However, an increase is not high enough to yield benefits. Scientists will currently combine the protein with low doses of insulin. The hope is that S100A9 will one day be given on its own.