Battling Diabetes: Groundbreaking Treatments You Should Know
Sigma Vital February 28, 2025 Medical Conditions and Treatments

Artificial Pancreas
An artificial pancreas isn’t a physical organ implanted into the body, but a technology that mimics the functions of the organ. It's also referred to as a closed-loop system or bionic pancreas. This automated insulin delivery system continuously monitors blood sugar levels and provides insulin or glucagon, as needed. Several models have been approved by the FDA and are available in the market.
Islet Cell Transplantation
A newer avenue of treatment includes islet cell transplantation. This procedure replaces the faulty islet cells – those responsible for producing insulin – with healthy ones from a donor. It’s a promising alternative, especially for those with an unstable form of type 1 diabetes, though it comes with its complexities and risks.
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)
The rise of wearable technology has also been applied toward diabetes treatment. CGMs can provide near real-time readings of blood sugar levels, send notifications if levels get too high or low and track glucose trends. This can be particularly beneficial in managing diabetes, ultimately offering tighter blood sugar control.
Inhaled Insulin
The more recent innovation, inhaled insulin, aims to make diabetes management less invasive. It’s becoming popular among patients who are uncomfortable with injecting insulin, and it starts working at a faster rate than injected insulin, but it's not suitable for everyone.
Vaccine
Lastly, there are ongoing clinical trials aimed at testing vaccines for type 1 diabetes. The vaccine known as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) could potentially reverse type 1 diabetes to some extent by raising levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a compound in the body that kills the autoimmune cells damaging the pancreas.
New treatments and technology are improving the prospects of diabetes management, bringing hope to millions worldwide suffering from the disease.