New Diabetes Breakthrough: Cure On the Horizon?

Researchers have reached a breakthrough in a potential cure for Type-1 diabetes according to a recent news release from Harvard University. Rather than traditional insulin injection treatments that need to be repeated several times a day, this new treatment would be an actual cure for this destructive autoimmune disease.

For those with Type-1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce insulin to help regulate blood glucose levels. This can lead to devastating problems in throughout the body, ultimately including blindness, nerve damage, and loss of limbs. While insulin injections are critical to many sufferers, blood glucose control is only temporary and these injections do not always offer enough protection against diabetic complications.

The new Harvard research uses embryonic stem cells to create new beta cells that can be transplanted into the pancreas to begin producing insulin like natural beta cells. For those with Type-1 diabetes, lead researcher David Melton told NPR, "We can cure their diabetes right away -- in less than 10 days."

According to Melton, the Harvard researchers have created a protective shell that helps to keep the body's autoimmune system from destroying the transplanted cells in the same way as the natural cells. So far, this additional protection seems to be working, at least in mice. Six months after transplant, the beta cells in diabetic mice are still producing insulin. Before human trials can begin, the transplant procedure will be tried on non-human primates. If the research goes well, human trials may begin in as little as three years.

In addition to being a potential cure for Type-1 diabetes, Type-2 diabetics who require insulin injections would also be candidates for the beta cell transplant procedure.

Furthermore, with the ability to create these beta cells, researchers will be able to use these cells to test other types of drugs as well as to potentially learn how diabetes occurs in the first place, possibly leading to preventive measures for those at risk in the distant future. For now, the possibility of a cure just on the horizon is exciting news in itself.

Sources:

Harvard University; From human embryonic stem cells to billions of human insulin producing cells: Giant step toward new diabetes treatment; Eurekalert.org News Release

Rob Stein; Scientists Coax Human Embryonic Stem Cells Into Making Insulin; NPR.org