Insulin News and Research

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Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert glucose, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Insulin allows cells to use glucose for fuel and is secreted by beta cells in the islets of Langerhans. The release of insulin from the pancreas is stimulated by increased blood glucose, vagal nerve stimulation, and other factors. Insulin is obtained from various animals and available in a variety of preparations. Commercial insulin preparations differ in a number of ways, including differences in the animal species from which they are obtained; their purity, concentration, and solubility; and the time of onset and duration of their biologic action. An oral hypoglycemic agent is not a form of insulin therapy.

Imaging study measures pancreatic fat in children and teens

Higher fat content in the pancreas of children and adolescents with obesity is associated with an increased level of heart and metabolic risk factors, including higher than average body mass index (BMI), elevated diastolic blood pressure, higher levels of abdominal and liver fat, and insulin resistance, according to new research presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May).

1 Apr 2026

Lifestyle care in primary clinics allows for safe diabetes deprescribing

A new research study provides real-world evidence that deprescribing glucose‑lowering medications is both feasible and safe when patients with type 2 diabetes receive lifestyle‑informed care in primary care settings.

31 Mar 2026

How gut imbalance may drive obesity, diabetes, and heart disease

A new review argues that gut dysbiosis is closely linked to metabolic dysfunction through intertwined effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, gut barrier integrity, microbial metabolites, and epigenetic regulation. It also highlights microbiome-targeted strategies such as high-fiber diets, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, exercise, and fecal microbiota transplantation as promising ways to support metabolic health.

30 Mar 2026

Time-restricted eating improves hormone levels in women with PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects as many as 18% of all childbearing-age women. The condition occurs when a woman's body produces too much of a group of hormones called androgens, chiefly testosterone. Menstrual irregularity, obesity and even infertility can result.

30 Mar 2026

AI-based tool matches standard method for coronary blood flow assessment

A novel, minimally invasive computer software-based method that uses artificial intelligence to determine whether plaques in a coronary artery are restricting blood flow to the patient's heart performed similarly to the standard, more invasive wire-based procedure, according to a large international randomized trial presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

29 Mar 2026

Higher sugar intake raises gallstone risk in adults, study finds

A cross-sectional NHANES study of 8,975 U.S. adults found that higher total dietary sugar intake was associated with higher odds of gallstones, with each 100 g/day increase linked to a 41% rise after full adjustment. The findings suggest sugar intake may be a modifiable gallstone risk factor, but the study relied on self-reported gallstones and cannot establish causation.

29 Mar 2026

Intensive cholesterol‑lowering therapy reduces first major cardiac event in high‑risk patients with diabetes

Mass General Brigham researchers found that the intensive cholesterol‑lowering therapy evolocumab reduced the risk of a first major cardiovascular event in high‑risk patients who did not have known atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque inside artery walls) but did have diabetes.

28 Mar 2026

New algorithm enables precise subtyping of metabolic liver disease

Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a clinically heterogeneous condition with highly variable outcomes affecting more than 30% individuals globally.

26 Mar 2026

Obesity-driven organ enlargement may boost cancer risk

Scientists at City of Hope® and TGen (part of City of Hope) are the first to explain a major mechanism for why gaining excess weight increases your risk of cancer.

26 Mar 2026

Can camel milk improve health? Review highlights benefits but warns against drinking it raw

A narrative review in Food Science & Nutrition examined studies published from 2000 to 2025 and found that camel milk contains bioactive compounds with potential glycemic, anti-inflammatory, gut, and other health benefits. It also stressed that raw, unpasteurized camel milk poses microbial and zoonotic risks, underscoring that safety remains a key part of the story.

25 Mar 2026

Lower hemoglobin levels within the normal range linked to better metabolic health

Finnish researchers found that hemoglobin levels that are within the normal range but at the lower end may be beneficial for health, particularly for glucose metabolism and cardiovascular health.

25 Mar 2026

New pathway enhances brown fat thermogenesis and metabolic health

Researchers have determined how a key protein activates brown fat by expanding blood vessels and nerves in the heat-generating tissue.

25 Mar 2026

Eating more dairy and calcium may lower metabolic syndrome odds

Research links higher dietary calcium and dairy consumption to reduced odds of metabolic syndrome, highlighting potential dietary interventions for health.

25 Mar 2026

Wholegrain rye changes gut bacteria and lowers inflammation in obesity trial

In a 12-week randomized trial, replacing refined wheat with wholegrain rye in a calorie-restricted diet did not produce greater weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity. Wholegrain rye did, however, lower C-reactive protein and alter gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in ways that may have positive cardiometabolic implications.

24 Mar 2026

IGFBP1 identified as potential biomarker for IBD monitoring in elderly patients

A recent study published in Current Molecular Pharmacology highlights the potential of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) as a monitoring biomarker for disease activity in elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

24 Mar 2026

Algorithm-guided insulin dosing improves blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes

A University of Virginia Center for Diabetes Technology-developed algorithm – paired with a continuous glucose monitor – can help users better manage their type 2 diabetes by recommending insulin-dose adjustments, a new study found.

24 Mar 2026

Breast reduction surgery is linked to lower diabetes and heart risk

Findings suggest breast reduction surgery is associated with lower long-term diabetes and cardiovascular risks, enhancing women's metabolic health.

24 Mar 2026

Palmatine improved fatty liver markers in a preclinical type 2 diabetes study

Researchers used a bioinformatics-plus-rat-model approach to investigate how palmatine may help treat T2DM-associated MASLD, identifying five core targets: ADRB2, BCL3, EGR1, FOS, and MAP3K8. In rats, palmatine improved liver injury, inflammation, oxidative stress, glycolipid metabolism, steatosis, and fibrosis, while reducing apoptosis-related signaling, providing a preclinical foundation for further therapeutic study.

23 Mar 2026

Mediterranean diet may protect health through mitochondrial microproteins

A new study led by researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology suggests that the benefits of the Mediterranean diet may be driven, in part, by tiny proteins hidden within our mitochondria, opening a new window into how diet shapes aging and disease risk.

23 Mar 2026

Scientists turn red blood cells into long-lasting drug and imaging carriers in mice

A new preclinical study shows that red blood cells can be tagged in vivo and used as long-lasting carriers for imaging agents and therapies, opening a new route for safer drug delivery and vascular imaging.

23 Mar 2026