Now, insulin can be kept without refrigeration

What is the News?

A team of scientists from Kolkata have developed a “thermostable” variety of insulin named “Insulock” which eliminates the need to keep it refrigerated. 

What is Insulin?

Insulin is a hormone that helps control the body’s blood sugar level and metabolism — the process that turns the food you eat into energy. The pancreas makes insulin and releases it into the bloodstream. Insulin helps the body to use sugar for the energy it needs, and then store the rest.

What is Insulin Injection used for? 

Insulin is used to control blood sugar in people who have type 1 diabetes (a condition in which the body does not make insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) or in people who have type 2 diabetes (a condition in which the blood sugar is too high because the body does not produce or use insulin normally).

What is the current procedure to store insulin?

Currently, insulin has to be stored at 4 °C. Beyond 4 °C, the insulin molecules degenerate.

Artificial insulin becomes unfit for use after 12 hours outside the fridge.

What have the scientists developed?

Scientists have developed a thermostable variety of insulin which eliminates the need to keep it refrigerated. 

This new variety would be able to withstand a temperature of up to 65 °C.

This will help the vast rural and underprivileged population who have no refrigerators in their homes to store insulin.

Source: This post is based on the article “Now, insulin can be kept without refrigeration” published in PIB on 24th September 2021.