UPSC Syllabus Mapping
| GS Paper | GS-II & GS-III |
|---|---|
| Subject | Health, Biotechnology and Public Health |
| Syllabus Pointers | Prep with our comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Hub analysis guidelines. |
Key Dimensions of Weekly Insulin
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood glucose by helping cells absorb glucose for energy. In diabetes mellitus, insulin is either absent, insufficient or ineffective, leading to persistently high blood sugar levels.
Weekly Insulin (Icodec) is a long-acting basal insulin analogue designed to remain effective for seven days after a single injection. It achieves this through strong albumin binding and slower receptor interaction, allowing gradual release into the bloodstream.
Who Can Benefit?
The therapy is primarily intended for adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus who require basal insulin and whose blood glucose remains uncontrolled despite oral medications. By reducing injection frequency from daily to weekly, it may improve adherence and long-term glycaemic control.
Patients with Type 1 Diabetes may require multiple daily insulin doses and meal-time insulin. Therefore, weekly insulin may not be suitable for every patient, and treatment decisions must be based on individual clinical assessment.
Public Health Significance
India has one of the world’s largest diabetes burdens, with over 100 million people living with diabetes and many more in the pre-diabetic stage. Innovations that simplify treatment can strengthen adherence, reduce long-term complications and improve the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Challenges include affordability, ensuring uninterrupted cold-chain supply, patient education and the continued importance of lifestyle modification alongside medication.
For broader background on diabetes and insulin therapy, refer to global developmental tracking frameworks.
Way Forward
India should strengthen early diabetes screening, improve affordability of advanced insulin therapies, expand access through public health programmes and integrate digital health tools for continuous monitoring. Alongside medical innovations, lifestyle interventions promoting healthy diets and physical activity remain central to diabetes prevention and control.
Prelims Practice Corner
Q1. Weekly Insulin (Icodec) is primarily designed to:
- (a) Cure diabetes permanently
- (b) Replace insulin production in the pancreas
- (c) Provide basal insulin through one injection every week
- (d) Treat only Type 1 diabetes
Answer: (c) Weekly insulin is a long-acting basal insulin analogue that remains effective for about seven days after a single injection.
Q2. Which hormone primarily regulates blood glucose levels?
- (a) Insulin
- (b) Thyroxine
- (c) Adrenaline
- (d) Melatonin
Answer: (a) Insulin helps cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream and maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Mains Practice Question
“Advances in long-acting insulin therapies can significantly improve diabetes management, but equitable access remains a major public health challenge in India.” Discuss. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
FAQs
Why is weekly insulin considered significant?
It reduces injection frequency, improves treatment adherence and offers a convenient option for eligible people with Type 2 diabetes while maintaining effective blood glucose control.
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