Stem Cells Offer Hope in Treating Type 1 Diabetes

Procedure isn't a cure, but kept patients off insulin for up to 4 years

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 15, 2009 8:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – Treatment for Type 1 diabetes may have taken a huge step forward, thanks to a procedure using a person's own stem cells to combat the disease. Although scientists stress that the treatment isn't a cure—and called for more study, given that the initial group consisted of just 23 subjects—researchers reported that the stem-cell transplant could keep patients off insulin for up to 4 years, the BBC reports.

Most people in the study had to use insulin again sooner than that, but they needed less of it than before treatment. Such results would likely only occur for people recently diagnosed with Type 1, the version of the disease in which the body's immune system fights insulin-producing cells. Type 2, which is often triggered by obesity, wouldn't be affected.

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New research on stem cells gives hope to insulin-dependent diabetics such as Brandon Merrell, 8, shown at his home Friday, July 11, 2008, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Diabetes sufferer Lee Ann Thill, 34, draws insulin for her insulin pump at her home in Magnolia, NJ, Monday, June 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

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Although this remains an interesting area of research, the importance of a limited extension to this study should not be overstated—this is not a cure for Type 1 diabetes. - Iain Frame, director of research at Diabetes UK

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Showing 2 of 2 comments

riffran

Apr 16, 2009 4:40 AM CDT

sorry there Mr. Scottie....the two are intimately entwined. A primarily high fat and refined carbohydrate diet, is a contributing factor. When the body gets "energy" from food, it has a immediate need for only so much at any given moment. The excess gets stored as fats. Carbohydrates are the hardest to digest but can yeild massive amounts of energy into the system quickly..."the ole sugar rush". The pancreas has to work harder and harder to keep the glucose levels in control. This overworking of the alpha and beta cells in the pancreas leads toward dysfunction. Couple that with a genetic predisposition, body morphology, and decreased activity..you get fat and you have a greatly increased incedence of developing type II.....Type I is a different cascade of events, but may also be precipitated by obesity. sort of a combination of type I and I....Then there is hyperlipidemia wich can cause pancreatitis, which can lead to DM...ect ect....(more factors than you can shake a stick at I'm afraid)I

Unaffiliated

Apr 15, 2009 2:33 AM CDT

It's a myth that Type 2 is caused by being overweight. It's just a risk factor. people who have Type 2 diabetes tend to also be overweight. Correlation does not equal causation.

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Stem Cells Offer Hope in Treating Type 1 Diabetes