Researchers say that could have a cure for Type 1 diabetes in two to five years by using an individual’s own stem cells to create new insulin-producing islet cells, according to a recent article from ArkLaTex.com.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly identifies the body’s insulin-producing cells as foreign cells and destroys them. Currently, doctors have transplanted islet cells from one human to another. However, such a procedure requires heavy doses of immunosuppressant drugs to prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted cells. Researchers say the new procedure would not need such drugs.
Researchers say the next step is to grow at least half a billion islets to cure diabetes in one human. However, testing would need to be done on animals first.
The article did not indicate how the researchers planned to address the autoimmune component of the disease.
To receive free news updates from Diabetes News Hound delivered straight to your Inbox, sign up here.
If you already receive the free Alerts, spread the word by telling a friend to sign up here.
These kinds of teaser announcements are always great news.
It’s hard to find more information on what are the progress successes that are being discovered by Dr. Clement. The fact that they are touting one pathway of stem cell research over the other types always makes me suspicious of any hidden agenda. Especially, the agenda of the Catholic Church. Georgetown University, like St. Louis University, is Catholic Church owned and their researchers are forbidden from exploring Embryonic Stem Cells, SCNT, etc.. It’s immaterial to diabetes sufferers which pathway is successful. But, the only thing offered as being definitive in this report is the use of Adult Stem Cells in their research, and they offer no specifics of their interim results.