Diabetes Research

In recent years, advances in diabetes research have led to better ways to manage diabetes and treat its complications. For example, the insulin pump, new oral medications, and better ways of monitoring blood glucose have become available. In the future, it may be possible to administer insulin through inhalers, a pill, or a patch. Islet transplantation, a procedure that can restore insulin production in patients with type 1 diabetes, is a highly promising area of research. Scientists also have found several genes that predispose people to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The National Institutes of Health is funding a large effort to find all the genes that influence getting diabetes. Once these genes are found, scientists hope to find new therapies. Devices are also being developed that can monitor blood glucose levels without having to prick a finger to get a blood sample. Researchers continue to search for the cause or causes of diabetes and ways to prevent and cure the disorder.