glucose

Once each hatchling finished the crawl, researchers checked blood glucose levels to estimate energy use.

This is important because insulin-assisted dilation helps move glucose from the bloodstream into body tissues, lowering blood sugar after meals.

Gracie now has a glucose monitor and an insulin pump and is "bossing diabetes", says her dad.

It works by improving the body's sensitivity to insulin, reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver, and enhancing glucose uptake by muscle cells.

These results were linked to the activation of a key cellular signaling system that regulates how the body processes glucose and energy.