A possible new treatment for diabetes sufferers could be on the horizon as scientists flag a promising next step.

The world-first research from Melbourne's Monash University could provide relief for millions, after researchers found a successful way to 'reprogram' damaged pancreas cells into producing insulin.

The breakthrough could potentially eliminate the need for daily insulin shots in the future.

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Diabetes is a chronic illness which occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin— the hormone that regulates blood sugar.

Researchers have been able to alter stem cells from the pancreas of a Type 1 diabetes donor by using cancer drugs to 'activate' dormant cells, which were then able to produce insulin.

Dr Keith Al-Hasani from Monash's department of diabetes said while a potential treatment utilising this research is still far away, it's a step towards helping diabetics better manage the condition.

"To remake insulin in their own body in their own pancreas instead of having to take something like an insulin injection," he said.

"This is a big breakthrough because there are over 500 million people that suffer from diabetes."

He said with the escalating rate of Type 2 diabetes diagnoses world wide, finding a manageable cure is becoming more urgent.

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"This represents an important step along the way to devising a lasting treatment that might be applicable for all types of diabetes."

Dr Ishant Khurana said if future human trials are successful, it could significantly reduce the burden on people treating the disease.

"The big picture is to prevent people from using insulin daily," he said.

Type 1 diabetes patient Simon McRudden said this kind of development would be life-changing.

"I've never known anything except diabetes and managing it," he said.

"I inject four times a day.

"I have a long-lasting injection in the morning at 8am and then I have injections with each meal.

"That's the holy grail isn't it— If we can get to a point where diabetics don't have to inject that would be amazing."

Aussie football great Sam Kerr was revealed as the global cover star for FIFA 23 this week.

In FIFA's 20 year history, a female has never featured on the cover of the global hit game – until now.

After having a few days to cool down, 9News.com.au sat down with the Matildas captain who says it's like a dream come true.

"Obviously it's like a dream come true of mine to be on the cover of FIFA. I think every kid growing up plays FIFA, whether you're a football fan or not," she said.

Kerr says she's known for a few months about her latest feat, telling 9News it was hard secret to keep.

"It's been difficult. But obviously, I shared that with the my close friends and family. But yeah, nothing really as big as like what it was when it got released a few days ago," she said.

Sam Kerr has being playing for Chelsea in the FA Women's Super League for the past two years. She's now sharing the cover with French footballer, Kylian Mbappé.

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She says being on the cover of a game like FIFA is a massive deal, something her family equally recognise.

"My mum knows how much I love FIFA how much, you know, the game. It was a big part of our family. So I think like, they're really stoked for me just because they know how much it means to me – and just to be in the game is amazing. And then to be on the cover. It's wild," she said.

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FIFA 23 is the last football game by EA to feature the FIFA name, future games will sport a new "EA Sports FC" title.

Kerr says inspiring a new generation of athletes, young women in particular keeps her going.

"I think it's like, why I still get on the pitch and do what I do," she said.

"Because I know so many people were looking up to me and following my journey. And yeah, it's just like, been a motivational thing for me the last couple of years is like, all the people that support me, whether it's from near or far. I get so much love from all my fans around the world.

"I feel like I'm just so lucky. So for me, it's just like, it's like mind blowing that people look up to me and all of that stuff. But at the same time, I really enjoy it. I really love it."

FIFA 23 is the most accurate representation of Sam Kerr ever, down to the finest details, she told 9News.com.au

"They even have like the hairband that I wear around my wrist in games. I'm really superstitious and, like, I have that wristband on because I don't want to like break it and, like, I always wear that wristband," she said.

"So it's like little things like that like they have like taken into account this year that like it's so cool."

The Matilda's captain says she's really excited to score some goals in the #20 jersey, she's been playing FIFA games since she was a kid.

"I was always like a Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo fan. I was always like choosing between those two teams like, when Rooney was obviously playing it was Man United, but then like, toward the end of my like – starting to like play really seriously, Ronaldo was at Real Madrid," she said.

"I always used to love doing the London derby is like, it's weird, because like, I would do like Tottenham vs Arsenal, I don't know why."

The game is set to release September 30 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Kerr says she gets a kick out of people playing as her in the FIFA games, allowing fans to really connect to their favourite footballers.

"People tag me in them playing as me and I think that's like, part of having women's football in the game. It has given the game, the women's game, so much more exposure," she said.

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