Irish firm claims breakthrough in pre-diabetes treatment

An Irish company is claiming a major breakthrough in the treatment of Type-2 diabetes.

Dublin-based Nuritas has uncovered a body acid which can balance blood sugar levels in humans.

The company is about to run trials here on what would be the first treatment available to stop people with pre-diabetes getting the full blown disease.

Nuritas CEO Emmet Browne said it was the biggest scientific advance yet in the treatment of diabetes.

"Diabetes is effectively defined as having blood sugar levels higher than normal. The breakthrough we found is an ingredient called a peptide that helps maintain the sugar in your blood at normal levels," he said.

"There's nothing else in the world at the moment that can be given to pre-diabetics. That's why it's a breakthrough."