Insulin pill hope for diabetics

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Pro-Humanist FREELOVER - 11 Sep 2007 10:33 GMT

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Tuesday, 11 September 2007, 00:03 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/6988394.stm
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Excerpts:

Diabetes patients could soon be able to take
a pill to control their condition instead of
repeated injections, researchers have claimed.

Experts at the Robert Gordon University in
Aberdeen have found insulin can be covered
by a coating which means it could eventually
be taken orally.

...

"Being able to take insulin orally would have
a significant impact on the lives of many of these
patients - not just eliminating the need for injec-
tions, but also offering a much more convenient
form of treatment."

...

Other scientists have also been looking at ways
to deliver insulin by mouth without it being
degraded in the stomach.

Taiwanese investigators are using a chemical
found in shrimp shells to protect the drug.

...

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Erica Nurney - 11 Sep 2007 14:32 GMT

On 11 Sep, 10:33, "Pro-Humanist FREELOVER" <prohuman...@ghg.net>
wrote:

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> Tuesday, 11 September 2007, 00:03 GMT
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> Taiwanese investigators are using a chemical
> found in shrimp shells to protect the drug.

I know a lot of people are needle-phobic but it seems odd to me that
the pharmas are investing so much money in delivery systems for
insulin. I tend to think the the pharmas demonise needles a bit to
create a demand for non-injectable insulin. I also worry about how
accurate non-injectable systems will be.

Really, the only issue I have with insulin is the bloody paraphernalia
I have to carry around with me. The injections are mostly completely
painless - finger pricking is much worse - it's just the faffing
around I find tiresome - sometimes I am tempted not to change the
needle every time and inject through my shirt.

EN

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