Provided herein are stablized a-CT polypeptides comprising an alpha-helical segment, and wherein the polypeptide is of Formula (I-1) or Formula (I-2): Rf-[XAA]s-XA1-XA2-XA3-XA4-XA5-XA6-XA7-XA8-XA9-XA10-XA11-XA12-XA13-XA14-[XAA]t-Re (I-1) Rf-[XAA]s-XC1-XC2-XC3-XC4-XC5-XC6-XC7-XC8-XC9-XC10-XC11-XC12-XC13-XC14- XC15-XC16-XC17-XC18-XC19- XC20-[XAA]t-Re (I-2) wherein the a-CT polypeptide binds to the insulin receptor, and wherein the a-CT polypeptide includes at least one staple (i.e. two cross-linked amino acids) and/or at least one stitch (i.e. three cross-linked amino acids). Further provided are insulin analogues including the stapled or stitched a-CT polypeptides, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods of use, e.g., methods of treating a diabetic condition or complications thereof
