Imagine being told there’s a drug that can delay the need for insulin in type 1 diabetes — not for a month or two, but for a whopping three years! Welcome to reality, because 36-year-old British dentist Hana Robinson is the first adult in the UK to receive this revolutionary drug — teplizumab. Already approved in the US, this drug works by stopping the immune system from attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The result? People with type 1 diabetes get precious extra time without daily insulin injections.
Type 1 diabetes is a disease where the body destroys its own insulin-producing cells, meaning patients must monitor blood sugar levels daily and inject insulin. If blood sugar is too high or too low, it can cause serious health problems, even death. But now, thanks to teplizumab, there’s hope to change this grim reality.
Hana was diagnosed in the early stages of type 1 diabetes during pregnancy and has now had the chance to try this drug at Royal Devon hospital. “This treatment gives me freedom and the chance to focus on my health before I have to take insulin every day,” says Hana. “It’s not just about what I eat or monitoring glucose, it’s about having more control over my life.”
Experts at the University of Exeter, including Dr. Nick Thomas, say this is a truly revolutionary shift in treating type 1 diabetes. For the first time, we have targeted treatment that can slow the disease’s progression and delay insulin need by an average of three years. About half of all type 1 diabetes cases develop in adulthood, and Hana is the first adult in the UK to receive this treatment.
Royal Devon hospital uses genetic testing to identify people at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes and plans to offer the drug to more patients. Dr. Lucy Chambers from Diabetes UK stresses the urgent need to make the drug available to everyone who could benefit.
This isn’t just a drug — it’s a medical revolution that could change millions of lives worldwide. Imagine years without daily injections, without the constant fear of blood sugar spikes or crashes. Is this the beginning of the end for type 1 diabetes? Time will tell, but one thing’s clear — hope is here.
Got thoughts on this game-changing drug? Maybe you or someone you know lives with diabetes? Drop a comment below. Who knows, your story or question might spark a new conversation or help someone feel less alone in this fight. And if you’re skeptical, we’d love to hear your take — because in health, like in life, silence isn’t an option!
