Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition in which the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, can make it harder for wounds to heal. Researchers are exploring why, and how the body’s natural healing processes could be improved. Pedro Geralde, PD, a professor at the Université de Sherbrooke in Canada, shared his team’s work at the American Physiological Society’s 2026 Comparative Physiology conference last month. We caught up with Geralde to learn more.

Q: Can you tell us what your team’s research is about?
A: We were studying why wounds heal more slowly with Type 1 diabetes and whether two naturally occurring molecules called apelin and ELABELA could help improve healing.

Q: Why do wounds heal more slowly in people with type 1 diabetes?
A: Not everyone with Type 1 diabetes experiences wound-healing problems, but they are generally at a higher risk of delayed healing compared with people without diabetes. High blood sugar levels can affect blood vessels, reduce blood flow, impair immune cell function and prolong inflammation. These changes can make it harder for the body to repair damaged tissues and fight infections.

Q: What happens when a wound doesn’t heal properly?
A: When a wound does not heal properly, it can become chronic, meaning it stays open for a long time. Chronic wounds are more vulnerable to infection because they provide an entry point for bacteria.

If an infection becomes severe and spreads to deeper tissues, such as muscle or bone, it can cause significant tissue damage. In some cases, amputation may become necessary to remove infected or nonviable tissue and prevent the condition from becoming life-threatening.

Q: Your study looked at two molecules called apelin and ELABELA. What are they, and what do they do?
A: Apelin and ELABELA are naturally occurring peptide signaling molecules that are produced by the body, mainly vascularized tissue. They are not ingredients currently found in common over-the-counter first aid products, and they are not standard prescription wound-care medications.

Q: How could these molecules help a wound heal?
A: They bind to a receptor called the apelin receptor and help regulate several biological processes, including blood vessel growth, cardiovascular function and tissue repair. In our study, they were applied directly to wounds in a research setting to test their effects on healing.

Q: Did you find that apelin and ELABELA actually helped wounds heal faster?
A: We found that diabetic mice healed their wounds more slowly than non-diabetic mice, but treatment with apelin or ELABELA improved healing. Our results also showed that a specific receptor for these molecules plays an important role in immune cells called macrophages, which help coordinate inflammation and tissue repair during healing.

Q: Could these molecules someday be used in wound-care products or treatments for people with diabetes?
A: It’s too early to say. At this stage they are being investigated as potential therapeutic agents for improving wound healing.  

Q: What’s the most important thing you want people to understand about your study?
A: We have identified a promising biological pathway that may help improve wound healing in diabetes. While more research is needed before this approach can be used in patients, our study advances our understanding of why diabetic wounds heal poorly and points toward potential new treatments to reduce complications such as chronic wounds and amputations.