By starting early insulin therapy, adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes would not only have the equivalent of 15 months of oral medication, they would also enhance their bodies’ insulin-producing capability.

That was the result of a study conducted by researchers at Ohio University and Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine. They held randomised trials and discovered that the average blood sugar over the last two to three months, or the A1C, went down to 6.7 percent from 10.1 percent after 15 months of injecting insulin. Those who took intensive oral medication also registered a drop to 6.8 percent from 9.9 percent.

Although the blood sugar of both groups went down at about the same rate, those who took oral medicine gained weight, while those who used insulin lost an average of five pounds, reports TechTimes.

Dr Jay Shubrook, lead researcher, explains the improvement in the patient’s body’s capability to secrete insulin to beta cells in the pancreas that respond to glucose and produce insulin. He cites another research in Cell Metabolism journal published in 2014 that the key is the re-differentiation of beta cells behind the improved capability to secrete the vital hormone.

The team, which held the research after successful case studies at the Ohio University’s Diabetes Institute, presented their results of their study on Saturday at the Osteopathic Medial Conference and Exposition in Orlando, Florida.

One reason why newly diagnosed diabetics prefer oral medication over insulin is the fear of needles. They may have a painless alternative following the approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of the Afrezza®, an insulin inhaler that delivers it in the form of fine powder. It is inhaled before a meal to help with control of blood sugar, reports Clevelandclinic. Afrezza® is a registered trademark of Mannkind Corporation.

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