Question: @mel How does the tablet reduce the sugar levels in their blood? Is it the same as people being given insulin injections when their blood glucose level is too high?

Melissa Brereton answered on 17 Mar 2013:

Yep it sure is! The tablet I give them contains insulin that is slowly released into their blood over a few weeks. I give them a tablet because it is less stressful for them that being injected every day!

I also give them another tablet called glibenclamide (long name huh?). This drug blocks a protein in the pancreas called a potassium channel. It is quite complicated but if this protein is activated, the pancreas cannot produce insulin. If it is inhibited, insulin can be released. So when I give them this drug, it blocks the protein and then the body’s own insulin can be released and then reduce the sugar levels in the blood. This works a lot better than giving insulin injections as the body is able to control how much it releases a lot better.