A SMART IDEA

Bye-bye injections, hello insulin pump

It seems too good to be true and has been hailed as the biggest breakthrough in diabetes treatment in the past 20 years: insulin you can inhale through a pump instead of injecting it.

Yet within the next few months it could become a reality for thousands of South Africans who suffer from types 1 and 2 diabetes and who until now have had to inject themselves every day.

About 5 million South Africans suffer from diabetes.

A shocking 50 per cent of all diabetics don’t manage their illness properly, mainly because of a fear of needles.

These people run a great risk of heart disease and other dangerous complications.

Without insulin a type 1 diabetic is expected to die within 18 months.

The world’s first insulin inhalation pump was developed because insulin can’t be taken orally.

It works in the same way as an asthma pump, according to pharmaceutical producer Pfizer.

The inhalable insulin is absorbed through the lungs and can replace diabetic medication and short-term insulin injections.

The new product, Exubera, is not recommended for diabetics who smoke or those who suffer from asthma or emphysema.

New implant breakthrough for hearing-impaired

Ultra-small electrodes may soon be implanted directly into the acoustic nerve of humans to enable even better hearing than with cochlear implants.

The new implants, designed by researchers at the University of Michigan, are about to be tested for the fi rst time on humans.

In earlier tests they enabled deaf animals to hear even deep bass sounds, which means people should be able to follow conversations in noisy clubs with ease. (Also read page 42.)

Click here and listen to hearing impaired Gerhard van der Merwe's story

The pollen of thorn trees can cause asthma.

But thanks to new drugs asthma can be managed more effectively. Read more about allergies on page 100.

6 MONTHS

That’s how long it took researchers to see results from anti-ageing creams containing 0,4 per cent retinol (a type of vitamin A).

The creams were tested on 87-year olds whose wrinkles were reduced and whose skin became smoother and more elastic.

Under a microscope their skin started looking like the skin of younger people.

Blind dogs can see again

Researchers have succeeded in restoring the sight of three dogs with gene therapy and are ready to test the treatment on blind people.

The dogs had a type of inherited blindness similar to Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA) in humans.

About 2 000 South Africans are blind as a result of LCA.

The dogs’ sight was restored within three months after the injection of healthy genes into their retinas.

Watch the video to see how the previously blind dogs now effortlessly find their way around.

10 SECONDS

That’s how long it takes for ozone (O3 gas) to destroy the bacteria (Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus) that cause tooth decay in your mouth.

This technique not only gets rid of harmful bacteria for up to 16 weeks but also keeps gums healthy and prevents bad breath.

Children especially benefit from ozone therapy which is quick, simple and painless.

This information originally appeared in the first edition of Pulse magazine. Buy the latest copy, on newsstand now, for more fascinating stories in the world of health and wellness.