SMART INSULIN

About

Smart insulin is a drug designed to automatically switch itself on and off depending on glucose levels in the blood. 

NNC2215

NNC2215 is a smart insulin and it consists of a ring-shaped structure and a  glucoside molecule, similar in shape to glucose.

How does it work?

During low blood sugar, the glucoside binds to the ring keeping the insulin inactive.

When the glucose levels increase, NNC2215 replaces the glucoside, which activates the insulin to lower blood sugar.

In a nutshell, It can automatically switch itself on and off depending on glucose levels in the blood. 

About

Diabetes is a condition when our body is unable to synthesise and react to insulin, which is the hormone that breaks down sugar in the blood to produce energy.

People of all ages are affected by diabetes. 

When does it develop?

When our blood sugar (glucose) is too high, we develop diabetes.

It arises when our body isn't reacting appropriately to the effects of insulin or when our pancreas produces insufficient or no insulin at all.

Over time, consistent high blood glucose can cause health problems, such as heart disease, nerve damage and eye issues.

Types of diabetes

The most common forms are:

Type 1 diabetes: 

This is a type of an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for unknown reasons.

Up to 10% of people who have diabetes have Type 1. It mostly affects children and young adults, but it can develop at any age.

Type 2 diabetes:

Our body doesn’t make enough insulin and/or your body’s cells don’t respond normally to the insulin in this condition. The situation is called insulin resistance.

This is the most common type of diabetes. 

It mainly affects adults, but children are also affected.

Prediabetes

This type is the stage before Type 2 diabetes.

Our blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be officially diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes: 

This type develops in some people during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. 

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the “Smart insulin” recently seen in the news: 

1. They are designed to automatically switch itself on and off depending on glucose levels in the blood. 
2. During low blood sugar, the glucoside binds to the ring keeping the insulin inactive.
3. The NNC2215 smart insulin has been approved in India.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A.Only one

B.Only two

C. All Three

D.None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: 

• Smart insulin is a drug designed to automatically switch itself on and off depending on glucose levels in the blood. 
• NNC2215 is a smart insulin and it consists of a ring-shaped structure and a  glucoside molecule, similar in shape to glucose.

Statement 2 is correct: 

During low blood sugar, the glucoside binds to the ring keeping the insulin inactive.

When the glucose levels increase, NNC2215 replaces the glucoside, which activates the insulin to lower blood sugar.

In a nutshell, It can automatically switch itself on and off depending on glucose levels in the blood.

Statement 3 is incorrect: 

NNC2215 has not been approved in India and it is still in the trial phase.