Needle-free insulin? Scientists invent gel that delivers insulin through the skin in animal studies

An illustration of sugar molecules in the blood.

For many people with diabetes, managing their blood sugar levels requires daily insulin shots — but now, scientists have invented a new polymer-based gel that can deliver insulin through the skin without needles.

The gel, described in a November study in the journal Nature, normalized the blood sugar levels of diabetic mice and pigs within one to two hours of application. The animals' blood sugar then stayed in a normal range for approximately 12 hours.