Patients with diabetes have no choice but to inject themselves regularly to compensate for their body’s inability to produce insulin. However, a recent article from Harvard SEAS contained news of a new technique that could vastly improve the quality of life for the 40 million sufferers of type 1 diabetes. Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have created a pill to keep diabetics’ blood sugar levels in check.
The pain associated with insulin injections deters patients from complying with their treatment regimen resulting in poor glycemic control, which can lead to a score of health complications. Early attempts at a pill failed because the acid in the stomach destroys the proteins. The solution is carrying insulin in an ionic liquid comprised of choline and geranic acid inside an acid-resistant coating. The result is biocompatible, easily manufactured, and has a shelf life of up to two months at room temperature.