Insulin therapy — new directions of research

Abstract

Insulin therapy is the most effective method of lowering blood glucose. Over 100 years have passed the studies for the optimisation of insulin action. To date, subcutaneous insulin administration has been the basic route of insulin delivery. The search for insulin therapy is simultaneously conducted in the following directions: the optimisation of insulin action, automatisation, and the decrease in the invasiveness of insulin delivery methods.

The optimisation of insulin action has led to the discovery of ultra-rapid-acting human insulin analogues, ultra-long-acting human insulin analogues, and biosimilar insulin. Automatisation referred to the “artificial pancreas” and closing the loop system in insulin pump therapy. The decrease in the invasiveness of insulin delivery methods is focused on alternative routes of insulin administration. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (3): 314–324)