It’s long been thought that people with Type 1 Diabetes cease to produce any insulin after they’ve had the disease for a while. However, new research suggests that notion is a myth, according to an article from Diabetes News.
The study examined people who have been awarded the Joslin Diabetes Center’s “50-Year Medal,” which is given to people that have had Type 1 diabetes for 50 years or more. Slightly more than two-thirds of the study’s 411 living participants and 9 deceased medalists retained the ability to have positive C-peptides, which suggests they are still producing some insulin. The study’s participants have had diabetes for an average of 56 years and were an average of 67 years old.
Researchers also measured the C-Peptide levels of some of the study’s participants before and after meals. They also looked at the levels of non-diabetics of similar ages. They found that C-Peptide levels increased five-fold in people without diabetes and threefold among people with Type 1 diabetes who’s bodies responded to the meals.
Researchers say the development is important because it shows that the disease is not necessarily “a progressive death” of beta cells. Of course, some people with Type 1 see all their beta cells destroyed. Researchers also say that they believe good blood sugar control may help preserve beta cell function.
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