Rice may render insulin injections obsolete
Japanese researchers claim to have developed the world’s first food-based diabetes treatment.
The rice is a product of collaborative research by the Japanese National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS), Japan Paper Industries and Sanwa Kagaku Research Institute.
It has been suggested that the GM rice is the first foodstuff in the world to be deployed as a treatment for diabetes.
It is anticipated that the rice will be available for sale in two-to-three years’ time but research director Takahito Jomori at Sanwa Kagaku says patients may have to wait longer.
Mr. Takahito said restrictions in Japan on where genetically modified plants can be grown may mean that the rice will have to be grown overseas.
Diabetics lack insulin. As a result, there is an excess of sugar in the blood.
Globally, the disorder affects more than 150 million people, including 17 million in the United States and six million in Japan.
In some cases, diabetics are prone to blindness and kidney failure.
