Study backs pancreas cell transplants for severe diabetes
Source: Washington Post
Transplants of insulin-producing pancreas cells are a long hoped-for treatment for diabetes and a new study shows they can protect the most seriously ill patients from a life-threatening complication of the disease, an important step toward U.S. approval.
These transplants are used in some countries but in the U.S. theyre available only through research studies. Armed with Mondays findings, researchers hope to license them for use in a small number of people with Type 1 diabetes who are most at risk for drops in blood sugar so severe they can lead to seizures, even death.
Cell-based diabetes therapy is real and works and offers tremendous potential for the right patient, said study lead author Dr. Bernhard Hering of the University of Minnesota, whose team plans to seek a Food and Drug Administration license for the therapy.
...
Diabetics who get kidney transplants sometimes also receive pancreas transplants at the same time, essentially curing their diabetes. But its an uncommon and grueling operation, so scientists for years have worked on a minimally invasive alternative: Infusing patients with just islet cells, the insulin factories inside the pancreas.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/study-backs-pancreas-cell-transplants-for-severe-diabetes/2016/04/18/13d76e9c-058b-11e6-bfed-ef65dff5970d_story.html
Bayard
(21,806 posts)I've lost two sisters to complications of Type 1 diabetes. I'm thrilled techniques like this are being done, but very sad its too late for my family.
I wonder if there's a requirement for how good the patient's condition is, or their age. I'm thinking that like most transplants, if they don't think you have a fair shot of recovering, they don't try. My oldest sister's kidney transplant came from me, or I'm sure she would have been at the bottom of the list. My other sister received two different cadaver kidneys, which never worked as well.
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)I understand the difficulty you face. Take care.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)HuckleB
(35,773 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)would also be willing to take chances.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Hope this continues...and that Pharma doesn't get to make billions.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Enrique
(27,461 posts)if people can make their own insulin, they don't have to buy it from Novo Nordisk, etc.
silvershadow
(10,336 posts)geardaddy
(24,924 posts)Now, if they could do kidney cell transplants, I'd be really happy!
IDemo
(16,926 posts)"Bacteria" definitely feels like a dirty word. E. coli strains trigger food poisoning and Streptococcus infections cause sore throats, but the truth is that less than 1% of bacteria types are actually harmful. In fact, many forms of bacteria are beneficial to the human body. They're called probiotics.
Lauded for their digestive benefits, probiotics are one of the most popular natural supplements in the US,1 but you can also find them in common foods. Yogurt, cheese, and even chocolate contain Lactobacillus gasseri, one of the most common probiotics.
Lactobacillus has been known to treat diarrhea and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut. Now though, scientists are beginning to discover that Lactobacillus could be a key to doing much more than just curing an upset stomachlike curing diabetes.
Engineered Lactobacillus
In a new study published by Diabetes, a team of researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, used a specially-engineered strain of Lactobacillus on diabetic rats. The probiotic released a hormone called Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which stimulates the secretion of insulin.
http://www.diabeticlifestyle.com/eating-well/can-common-germ-cure-diabetes
--Type 1 for 52 years.
TexasProgresive
(12,148 posts)they are incapable of producing insulin. Many type 2 diabetic are insulin resistant so that action would over work a tired pancreas.
IDemo
(16,926 posts)Another source explains it better:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/News/Can-a-probiotic-pill-to-cure-diabetes/
'Up to a third of insulin produced by non-diabetic mice' implies that without expanded success with probiotics, injections would still be a requirement.