The promising future of insulin therapy in diabetes mellitus

The first therapeutic use of insulin by Frederick Banting and Charles Best in 1921 revolutionized the management of type 1 diabetes and considerably changed the lives of many patients with other types of diabetes. In the past 100 years, significant pharmacological advances took place in the field of insulin therapy, bringing closer the goal of optimal glycemic control along with decreased diabetes-related complications. Despite these developments, several challenges remain, such as increasing treatment flexibility, reducing iatrogenic hypoglycemia, and optimizing patient quality of life. Ongoing innovations in insulin therapy (e.g., new insulin analogs, alternative routes of insulin administration, and closed-loop technology) endeavor to overcome these hurdles and change the landscape of diabetes mellitus management. This report highlights recent advances made in the field of insulin therapy and discusses future perspectives.

Automated summary

The first therapeutic use of insulin in 1921 revolutionized diabetes management and significantly improved the lives of patients. Despite significant pharmacological advances, challenges such as increasing treatment flexibility, reducing iatrogenic hypoglycemia, and optimizing patient quality of life remain. Ongoing innovations in insulin therapy aim to overcome these hurdles and change the landscape of diabetes management.