Type 1 cure, did anyone read about this? [Archive]

Injecto

03-27-2007, 06:39 AM

No, there will be a cure. There's something like 3 or 4 potentially promising routes, one of which could be yielding results in around 10 years time or so.

No offense in the slightest, however, isn't that what people are always told, time and time again, and when the time comes there is always a reason why it doesn't pan out..again. It's alot easier and healthier not to hold out hope for a cure but rather to focus on "management" treatments.

Just thought of this, when talking about a cure, what kind of cure? See, a true cure would be making a person NOT a diabetic and that can only be done by giving a person back their islet cells and ridding them of the reason they were killed in the first place. I suppose they can find a way to prevent diabetes from affecting new people at some future point but then that wouldn't be a cure but rather an "immunization" shall we say?

DeusXM

03-27-2007, 06:53 AM

No offense in the slightest, however, isn't that what people are always told, time and time again

Yeah, but now those cures are in trials. We now know about stem cells and we've already demonstrated how we can use those to rebuild islet cells. The problem is just getting the stem cells - that's about 20 years away.

There's also islet cell transplants into the liver - those are the 'crude' ways of curing. We can't really go much further with those but they sorta work, but usually you'll need immunosuppresants.

Then there's a rather surprising tablet 'cure'. Basically there are two drugs (one's called Exendin-4, the other I is lisofylline). One is a highly specialised immunosuppresant that prevents the autoimmune reaction that destroys the islet cells without compromising the rest of the immune system. The other is a specialised growth drug that accelerates the regeneration of islet cells. Both drugs are already used individually on human beings, and they have been tested together as an overall cure in mice. Because these drugs are already approved for human use, the trials for co-operative treatment can take place much sooner (within 5 years) and so we should see results either way in about 10 years.

Researchers’ treatment reverses Type 1 diabetes: 04-28-2006 (http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/2006/08/diabetes.html)

This cure satisfies both the criteria for your cure and also neatly kicks into touch all the bunk arguments that 'big pharm' is making too much money out of diabetes to cure it - since you'd have to take these tablets for the rest of your life, it's still a money-spinner. It's the most promising of the cures out there for business and scientific reasons and it's also the one that seems to be the closest.

I'd argue it's very healthy to hold out for a cure - my primary motivation for managing my diabetes is that one day I'm not going to have do all this, and so it's in my best interest to make sure my body is in the best condition possible for when that happens.

jjames

03-27-2007, 07:09 AM

Isn't this exactly what the sentiment was when a cure for polio was around the corner? People were outraged and saying "how could you say there's a cure?" Heck, right now the President of Namibia claims he has found a cure for AIDs and the recipients recieving this concoction say they are cured. I personally feel there are cures for everything, it will just take time to discover / create them.

Would an effective treatment plan - something more sufficient than pumps and MDI - be satisfiable? Such as encapsulated islet cells? Check out The Chicago Project (http://www.thechicagoproject.org/timeline.html) and its timeline. Would this not be a cure?

For the non-believers, will you be the last ones in line when a cure is "discovered" or will you jump on the band-wagon and push your way to the front?

E-NICE

03-27-2007, 07:20 AM

No one in their right mind would not want a better treatment or cure. My only problem is that when the media reports these things, they do it in a way that implies you can throw away your insulin & meds tomorrow.

Mich

03-27-2007, 07:23 AM

JediSkipdogg

03-27-2007, 07:43 AM

I can't say much more than Deus as he hit everything dead on. The biggest thing people don't realize is how far we have come in medical treatments in the past few years. Could we do an open heart transplant 200 years ago? How about artificial limbs that allowed one to fully walk 50 years ago? How about restoring someone that is legally blind to perfect vision 15 years ago? How about cloning something to have the exact DNA of it's "equal" 5 years ago?

Ultimately the Chicago project would be a great treatment minus the immunosuppressants which are sometimes more harmful than the disease. So for that the solution would be to clone the own person's cells or use their own stem cells and get them to produce islet cells and transplant them back in. No rejection drugs needed there. However, that still leaves to the matter what caused the diabetes in the first place. Now remember, this is for a type 1 only...type 2 would be totally different. There is still the problem of what causes type 1 in the first place. And for an ultimate treatment method for that there may be none besides taking a pill to suppress it.

I'm very hopeful for one in my lifetime where I can turn my pump in.

E-NICE

03-27-2007, 07:47 AM

That brings up one nagging question I have. Having read about and comfirmed with my endo (he is also a type1) that type 1 or the predisposition to it is at least partially genetic. Would not any permanent cure have to invovle some sort or genetic engineering? Just thought I would put that out there and see if anyone had any thoughts. There was and article on Newsweek's website earlier this year about it.

jjames

03-27-2007, 07:59 AM

Genetic engineering . . . would that be a problem? I can see certain some people having an issue with it, but if it were to prevent a disease - I say why not? Heck, they're already on the path (if not already doing) "designer babies." I can see how this can easily and quickly become a moral debate, but I don't think ethics or morals should play any type of role in a cure. If I *absolutely* knew that my son or daughter would *not* develop diabetes or cancer or any other horrible disease through genetic engineering, you bet your left foot I would "play God" for a day. On top of that, I would not care how many "lives" were "sacrificed" (if we include embryonic stemcell research) on the road to the cure. Such a negative opinion I know, but I've always believed in the "better you than me" way of life.

We are certainly all entitled to form our own opinions, though I would question those yet again who "deny" the ways of a cure: will you stay out of the "Cure Line" or will you jump in the queue?

Injecto

03-27-2007, 08:35 AM

I should have specifically mentioned that "hope" is something that I'm not personally fond of and is therefore a personal choice for me not to hold out hope. For all those that can use hope as a guide or a positive element in their lives, all the power to you.

IF one day their is a cure I'll be glad for sure, but I'm not as confident as the rest of you. That said, just because one does not have hope does NOT mean they are not entitled to a cure.

I just can't help it though. When I see things like what you posted Jedi, 50 years ago, 200 years ago, my negative mind thinks, well those people 200 years ago didn't benefit from the "cure" 200 years later. I feel we are in the same boat. A cure may be around the corner, but it's a corner that is not in my lifetime of a remaining 40 years at best. Sure things will get better within that 40 years, but not a cure as I see it. God I hope I'm wrong.

Gangrel

03-27-2007, 08:44 AM

Dewey

03-27-2007, 10:00 AM

But 200 years ago, things happened a lot slower. It's like Moore's Law of computing, power doubles every 18 months....

These days, research and innovation happens at a much faster rate due to the increase in technology and tools and communication, etc.

So, I think there WILL be a cure. Is it around the corner? No. Will it happen in my lifetime, a widely useable one? yes, but not until i'm much older.
Very true, Gangrel, and well said. Things do happen & change very quickly in our world today. New things are always on the horizon!

As a 24 year vet, it may be too late for me anyway, but you know what? I'm ok with that.

I live quite happily with diabetes, so if a cure is not found for me, I'm still going to have a good, full, and happy life. Sure, it's a pain in the rear some days, don't get me wrong.

But I also don't see a reason to get down about it, to hate yoruself, your body, whatever..... Each time you think you've got it bad, remember there are others far worse (and then again, i bet they don't even think of them as such either).

One of the nicest and happiest people i've ever met is in a wheelchair, and some of the grumpiest, most negative people I've met have nothing wrong with them at all.

This disease only sucks when you let it suck your soul.
Once again....Well said & Word up! Some of the very nicest people I've ever met are Cancer patients! Some who even wound up passing away, were always cheery & were NEVER negative about their disease.

I've had Diabetes for over 25 years now & in that time, have been through trials & triumphs (more so with Life, not Diabetes). However, for the most part, I've been able to manage well and keep things in check. Innovations like pump therapy have helped immensely, and things like CGMS technology will aid many in years to come.

Now, to answer jjames' question...I'm not a "non-believer" nor do I "deny the ways of a cure"...However, as said in many of my previous posts, I'd gladly stay out of the line or say NO to a cure for myself, and let others benefit from it. I can live with my Diabetes, and have for a very long time. I'm healthy, and can control my sugars & my disease with the tools available today. Personally, I'd rather see diseases like Cancer, Alzheimer's, MS & Parkinson's cured First, but that's just Me.

Injecto

03-27-2007, 10:39 AM

But 200 years ago, things happened a lot slower. It's like Moore's Law of computing, power doubles every 18 months....

These days, research and innovation happens at a much faster rate due to the increase in technology and tools and communication, etc.

I'm very much aware of that, I'm just not going to hold out hope for it. If we were talking about a new iPod/DVD player with a cell phone attached I'd be hopeful that we will see one in just one year, but health? We'll see.

Each time you think you've got it bad, remember there are others far worse.

Now I've heard this time and time again, and I do understand what you are trying to say (and others who have said it) I really really do. However, and this may be incredibly hard for many to believe but I'm the first person in my whole family (and it's not a small family, including uncles/aunts/cousins/grandparents etc..) to get a chronic disease of any sort. This took the whole family by surprise and I can't even look at another example in my own family and say, "well, at least I wasn't like Grampa Joe, or poor Shelley". This has been a shock from left field across the board. Perhaps one of many reasons why it is so hard to get the perspective that all of you have.

Gangrel

03-27-2007, 11:19 AM

Now I've heard this time and time again, and I do understand what you are trying to say (and others who have said it) I really really do. However, and this may be incredibly hard for many to believe but I'm the first person in my whole family (and it's not a small family, including uncles/aunts/cousins/grandparents etc..) to get a chronic disease of any sort. This took the whole family by surprise and I can't even look at another example in my own family and say, "well, at least I wasn't like Grampa Joe, or poor Shelley". This has been a shock from left field across the board. Perhaps one of many reasons why it is so hard to get the perspective that all of you have.

But dude, look outside your family. Sure, diabetes runs in mine, T1 and T2, but I don't compare myself to them at all. I dunno.... The way I look at it is like this.

I am alive. I play hockey. I drink beer. I watch hockey. I go to movies. I laugh with my friends, both real and virtual. I like to drive my car fast-ish (it's only a Focus after all!). I love music, listening and concerts. I play video games. I like when the cat is actually not being cranky, and sits on my lap and purrs.

I do all that, diabetic or not. To me, being worse off is not having any of that, or being able to DO any of that.

We have a chronic disease, yes. It's the 2nd or 3rd leading killer in Canada from all it's complications, true. But unlike other diseases, such as MS, Alzheimers, Cancer, etc. our quality of life is pretty darn good.

I have a friend who has possible MS, and she is just back at work part time with a walker, and shakes very visibly while she is walking.

She is YOUNGER then I am.

Me? Unless you see me pull out my pen and jab myself, you would never guess I'm diabetic, the same as many of you!

I'm not trying to make anybody mad or feel guilty for having negative thoughts, it's your right, it's why mine and your relatives went to war......

Just remember it's not that bad, in all relativity. I would much rather be able to play hockey, and just take my insulin and carb count my beer and wings (mmmmmm, hot wings) then not be able to play hockey or eat wings at all because I'm paralyzed.

Maybe i'm more optimistic then some.... and it's probably the East Coast in me........ but it's a lot less stressful for me!!!!!! (The Vitamin K helps too. ;) )

Lloyd

03-27-2007, 11:24 AM

There is no cure, and there will never be a cure, only a crude/barbaric treatment.

What about pancreas transplant?

I consider that a cure for type 1. Not always sucessful, but when it works, no more diabetes.

-Lloyd

DeusXM

03-27-2007, 12:32 PM

Have to agree with Gangrel on this one...in fact I'd even go as far as saying...

....having diabetes isn't really that big a deal.

There, I said it. Yeah, there's ups and downs. Yeah, it's obviously much easier not having diabetes, but be fair, there's dozens of other conditions that have worse prognoses. The 'good' thing about diabetes is that you're in charge of what it does to you. Cancer, AIDS, MS...you don't get to choose how much they affect you. They're just 'there' and almost everything you do is like trying to stop a flash flood with a couple of sandbags.

With diabetes it's really down to you how much it'll getcha. There's also a lot more clarity as to WHY and HOW people get diabetes, which means we already know the two things we need to start working on a cure. We don't really know enough about many cancers, AIDS, MS or whatever to even think about working on a cure. We do for diabetes. We actually 'know' how to cure diabetes - something we didn't 'know' 15 years ago, which is why when people say a cure is around the corner, they actually mean it this time. 20, 30, 40 years ago there was this vague notion that we'd probably find a cure (after all, if we could put a man on the moon, we could make his pancreas work too, right?) but whilst we had that hope, we didn't really have the first clue as to the mechanics of getting the cure.

To use an analogy, curing diabetes is like getting from one place on a map to the other. Until recently, we knew where we had to get to, and generally which direction to face, but we didn't know which roads to use - we didn't even have a road map to follow. Now we do - we actually have a map with a clear path to our destination.

Now it's just a case of getting the car to start and actually driving there - and the keys are already in the ignition.

Don't worry Injecto - you're not the only one who's the 'only one'. ****, I am too. Maybe I've been particularly lucky or sheltered but I've never known anyone in my circle of people I know who's had a chronic condition.

Look at it like this. You've only been recently dxed. It'll take you a while to get over it. I'm not even convinced I've got over it yet, and I've put up with the big D for 9 years. But it does get easier - you never fully accept it, but you accept that you can deal with it. And that's why I'm still so optimistic about a cure - because I can deal with diabetes, but I still don't feel I should have to put up with it. I deserve a cure, and if I can't do anything practical to finding one myself I'm going to make sure that anyone else who can feels they ought to find one.

AndreLaplume

03-27-2007, 12:34 PM

In trials...5 years away, 10 years away, 20 years away....excuse me but bullcrap. It would not take 5 years to see if those drugs worked. It either does or does not and should take no longer than 5 weeks to find out. Sorry to be pessimistic but I am in one of my moods. There is too much money to be made in treating rather than a curing. Anyone notice how we had a number of cures in the 1800s and early 1900s but none since...and with all this modern technology! Lots of treatments, no cures.

So I hope to see quickly a treatment that monitors blood continuously, monitors glucose continuously, adjusts based on what is eaten, keeps sugar levels in line with what non-diabetics exerience and that is expensive enough that the drug companies make dough off it but cheap enough for the insurance companies to cover it.

Sorry for my bad attitude today but everytime I inject my daughter I think how we can put a man on the moon, have cell phones, ipods etc etc and can not (or will not) cure this stupid disease!

DeusXM

03-27-2007, 12:40 PM

Anyone notice how we had a number of cures in the 1800s and early 1900s but none since...and with all this modern technology!

Go on, name them. Most people get as far as 'polio' and then tend to come rather unstuck. It's a myth that we were curing stuff loads 100 years ago - the sad fact is that we can't really cure anything and we never have been able to cure anything. Every single form of 'cure' that has ever been designed is simply some way of augmenting the body's own repair and immune system - which incidentally, just happens to be the Ex-4/lisofyllene approach. Which also would be a cure that would satisfy the bank balance of pharmaceutical companies.

It also happens to be about 2 years away from trial as well, according to my sources. Don't subscribe to the fictions about evil pharmaceutical companies suppressing cures or that everything was better in 1892 - the truth's far more entertaining!

Gangrel

03-27-2007, 12:45 PM

Andre, it might take 5 weeks to find out if a "cure" works, but then what about one year down the line? 5 years? 15?

I'd rather live with the big D then do a "cure" that i find out will end up doing more harm then good in 10 years.

There ARE things that monitor blood glucose constantly. If you have good control, you DO keep your sugars in line with what "normal" people have going on. And *I* do know how much I eat, and adjust accordingly.

Putting a man on the moon is far easier then dealing with the human body, IMO.

belyro

03-27-2007, 12:46 PM

But dude, look outside your family. Sure, diabetes runs in mine, T1 and T2, but I don't compare myself to them at all. I dunno.... The way I look at it is like this.

I am alive. I play hockey. I drink beer. I watch hockey. I go to movies. I laugh with my friends, both real and virtual. I like to drive my car fast-ish (it's only a Focus after all!). I love music, listening and concerts. I play video games. I like when the cat is actually not being cranky, and sits on my lap and purrs.

I do all that, diabetic or not. To me, being worse off is not having any of that, or being able to DO any of that.

We have a chronic disease, yes. It's the 2nd or 3rd leading killer in Canada from all it's complications, true. But unlike other diseases, such as MS, Alzheimers, Cancer, etc. our quality of life is pretty darn good.

I have a friend who has possible MS, and she is just back at work part time with a walker, and shakes very visibly while she is walking.

She is YOUNGER then I am.

Me? Unless you see me pull out my pen and jab myself, you would never guess I'm diabetic, the same as many of you!

I'm not trying to make anybody mad or feel guilty for having negative thoughts, it's your right, it's why mine and your relatives went to war......

Just remember it's not that bad, in all relativity. I would much rather be able to play hockey, and just take my insulin and carb count my beer and wings (mmmmmm, hot wings) then not be able to play hockey or eat wings at all because I'm paralyzed.

Maybe i'm more optimistic then some.... and it's probably the East Coast in me........ but it's a lot less stressful for me!!!!!! (The Vitamin K helps too. ;) )

This sounds like the "I AM CANADIAN" commercial. ;)

Injecto

03-27-2007, 12:47 PM

Look at it like this. You've only been recently dxed. It'll take you a while to get over it. I'm not even convinced I've got over it yet, and I've put up with the big D for 9 years. But it does get easier - you never fully accept it, but you accept that you can deal with it.

And dude, we've now bonded.

I'll admit, I'm having a real down day today, so my posts are a little more "helpless" than they should be. I should really learn to avoid the board when I'm pissed (not the drunk kind, but then again that may be funny too).

JediSkipdogg

03-27-2007, 12:47 PM

the sad fact is that we can't really cure anything and we never have been able to cure anything. Every single form of 'cure' that has ever been designed is simply some way of augmenting the body's own repair and immune system - which incidentally, just happens to be the Ex-4/lisofyllene approach. Which also would be a cure that would satisfy the bank balance of pharmaceutical companies.

I think alot forget how complex the human body is. The United States dumps billions into the flu vaccine every year. And they throw out even more supplies every year as it's unused. Heck, I think there are either only one or two companies that still produce the flu vaccine because they found out how unprofitable it was.

My point is that not everything makes money. If a company wnated to make billions then they would have found a cure for the flu that is a permanent fix. But the problem is it MUTATES every year. I think alot forget that just as the body wants to fight the illness of the illness wants to fight the body back. What is the purpose of chemo? It's to mutate the "bad" cells in the human body to the point that they die off. That's what radiation does.

So unfortunately it will be nearly impossible to ever truely cure something. The answer will be how well can we treat it without causing any other harmful side effects. And I think for diabetes that will just be suppressing the autoimmune disorder and then regrowing islet cells.

designdb

03-27-2007, 06:35 PM

Hi folks,

I am curious if anyone read about this cure some Canadian researchers found? It was written in the Cell Journal last December 2006. I blogged a bit about it yesterday... It is very interesting and frustrating at the same time.

Has anyone else heard anything on the news about this research and possibly testers?

I've been hearing every year, "A cure is just around the corner" for the last 30yrs by the lying media. So I'm here to ask the liars, WHERE IS IT??????? I'm still waiting!!!!!

Don't plan on a cure being here anytime soon. In other words, "Don't get your hopes up" it will never happen. If it does I'll give everybody on this forum a $1000.

June91

03-28-2007, 01:29 AM

I thought Canadians were laid-back and cheerful until Injecto came along... :D

For me, living with diabetes is a big deal. But I am sure a lot of my worries and struggle come from the fact that although I am a a self-taught optimist, I am essentially a pessimist. While it is true that we can choose to react in a positive manner to negative events, for some it is second nature and for some it comes through a lot of effort.

Also, diabetes does not affect the life of a 22-year old student in the UK in the same way it does a 35-year old single mother in Serbia. I know that I can deal effectively with diabetes, having had no hospital stays and negligible complications, but diabetes can be fickle and I now wish I'd taken this disease more seriously when making some important life choices.

All the same, I think there's sufficient reason to believe that insulin will be but a distant memory of an outdated treatment in our lifetime.

DeusXM

03-28-2007, 01:42 AM

I've been hearing every year, "A cure is just around the corner" for the last 30yrs by the lying media. So I'm here to ask the liars, WHERE IS IT??????? I'm still waiting!!!!!

Thought I'd already explained this. In fact I went to huge effort to try to put together a pretty good analogy for what's happened.

In other words, "Don't get your hopes up" it will never happen. If it does I'll give everybody on this forum a $1000.

Deal. PM me and I'll send you my PayPal account details.

When I get that cure, I'm using your cash to buy the world's biggest tub of Ben and Jerry's.

Also, diabetes does not affect the life of a 22-year old student in the UK in the same way it does a 35-year old single mother in Serbia.

Well, I'm not a student for a start (actually I'm a journalist and PR consultant)...but the point I was making is that relatively speaking, diabetes isn't a big deal. It's not like having the Sword of Damocles hanging over you and it's not like you're going to drop dead suddenly. But (and sorry if this sounds blunt) you've just admitted that you wish you'd taken your condition more seriously. And that was my point all along - really, it's up to you how much your diabetes affects you.

June91

03-28-2007, 04:19 AM

Well, I'm not a student for a start (actually I'm a journalist and PR consultant)

Sorry, I was probably being an ageist ;) and your passion for being right - sometimes even at the expense of proven facts and overriding your own, undoubtedly superior intelligence - led me to believe you couldn't possibly have the diplomatic skills or blatant disregard for truth usually associated with PR. I'm not taking this particular thread as an example, as even you will have to agree there are some issues for which there is no right or wrong, one of them being our subjective experiences with diabetes.

you've just admitted that you wish you'd taken your condition more seriously. And that was my point all along - really, it's up to you how much your diabetes affects you.

Sometimes it's not only up to you how much diabetes affects you. To start with, not everyone has the tools you and I take for granted, living as we do, in relative western affluence. If management of this disease was dependent on our skills alone, I could (up to a point) agree.

But (and sorry if this sounds blunt)

Having read a lot of your posts, I respect your knowledge and find most of your advice invaluable. I have noticed, though, that you aren't really blunt or honest with people who disagree with you; more often your posts show a startling lack of empathy which may be attributed to lack of experience.

Now I'm sorry if I sounded harsh, but it is my belief that opinions are there to be shared, although personally I'd rather be liked than right and - that's only human! ;)

Mich

03-28-2007, 07:25 AM

Yes June, but I see it all as Vive la difference. I love all of the opinions expressed here. Somewhere among all of them, we each find the thing that works for us.

That said, I'm sorry Andre, but inappropriate or not, I laughed when I read your post. Over these years of dealing with the big D, I have had down days like Injecto is having and foot stomping fits like you are expressing. Neither helped, but I felt better for indulging myself. Like Deus, I feel I don't deserve to have this (four generations ago, my great grandmother was a type 2) and like Dewey, I'd stand back and let someone else like your daughter get in line ahead of me for a cure. You're so right, it is NOT FAIR. I wish your daughter didn't have to get used to it and hopefully it won't be for long.

This forum is the exact right place to come to discuss these feelings.

Mich

AndreLaplume

03-28-2007, 07:41 AM

AndreLaplume

03-28-2007, 07:43 AM

Well, if the 'cure' were to be something established as doing no harm then I'd bet many diabetics would not want to wait 20 years to find out there are no side effects.

E-NICE

03-28-2007, 08:07 AM

One question that has not been looked at in the research which is just a personal question. Is since type 1 is autoimmune does the pancrease ever reach a point where it is beyond repair? I mean like a car that no one changes the oil on and runs to the point the valves are burned out.

andypoo

03-28-2007, 08:08 AM

I'm like most on here,at least when it comes to diseases, There'll always be "on the horizon","Ten years from now","trials going on","Study's being done",. We are guinea pigs,and there's gonna always be guinea pigs, there'll always be jobs that need people to work for the big(big money) diseases. I know everyone believes that there'll be a cure and it's fun to imagine that day coming,just "on the horizon".For some their may be relief,but for others (not in our lifetime).I mean there will always be better treatment,better this and better that,just not a cure.As long as they keeping making new meds that'll treat the big D,I'll keep plugging along,too.I'm not trying to bum everyone out,I hope I'm wrong,really wrong,and that soon,there'll be this BIG announcement on the news Saying:HOLD THE PHONES,EVERYBODY! THEY HAVE FOUND A CURE FOR DIABETES!!!!!! CANCER!!!! AIDS!!!!!!!! ALL DISEASES!!!!!! COME ONE COME ALL FOR YOUR INJECTION......................INJECTION? PILL! .......PILL? FOR YOUR CURE!!!!!ha!ha! Anyway I'm just Being negative today,sorry.

Gangrel

03-28-2007, 08:18 AM

Well, if the 'cure' were to be something established as doing no harm then I'd bet many diabetics would not want to wait 20 years to find out there are no side effects.

No one said anything about waiting 20 years, but if I was offered a cure RIGHT NOW that hasn't been tested for at LEAST 5 years or more, I would refuse it.

I would rather keep injecting insulin, a KNOWN substance to me, then take chances on something that could mess me up further.

Would YOU rather do the same for your child, or risk their well being further by jumping the gun and going for something new?

Everyone is entitled to have whatever attitude they want about diabetes...... I'm not going to lie and say I lovvveeee having it.

And maybe if i had a child with it, instead of myself, I would feel the same way as some of you, who knows?

But to me, all this anger is going to do is make everything far worse. If you want to think the worst, that there will never be a cure, that the drug companies are keeping things from us for the sake of billions of dollars of profits that's YOUR choice. You will end up with darkness and anger to the end of time......

I was handed this card 25 years ago. I can either fold my hand, walk away from the table, and never be heard from again, or I keep playing with the cards given to me. I'd much rather play....... and hold out hope the jackpot will come. And if it doesn't? at least i had fun playing along the way.

E-NICE

03-28-2007, 08:23 AM

Even if I did not get the jackpot but instead a little better hand with diabetes that would alright.

Dewey

03-28-2007, 09:31 AM

Ok, maybe my fuse is also short today, I don't know....but I just Have to say:

There's nothing wrong with people being hopeful for a cure. That said, they also need to be REALISTIC & live in the here & now. If we don't take care of our health NOW, we're going to be paying serious (& likely severe) consequences down the line. It's fine to have bad days and feel down about things - Heck, we're human, we ALL do. However, better not live in that slump for long, or you & your health Will be paying for it.

Deus has used examples that have hopefully scared people straight in terms of control....well, I'd like to do something along similar lines. The next time you feel depressed about Diabetes, go to your local Children's Hospital, and see little ones battling Cancer and other illnesses. Or, you could go to the VA (Veteran's Administration Hospital - If you have one), and see people who have lost legs, eyes and arms in battle. See people who are frail & thin as a rail from Cancer.....and last, but certainly Not least, talk to people whose friends died in their arms, while they were at war.

Having Diabetes is NOT the end of the world. There ARE things that are far worse. As Gangrel said, unlike diseases such as MS, Cancer, Parkinson's & Alzheimer's, Diabetes CAN be managed! That HAS to count for something, no?

Like Gangrel, I've had Diabetes for over 25 years now. I was diagnosed at a time when my grandfather was losing his battle to Lung Cancer. I felt & still feel lucky that Diabetes (& hypothyroidism) is all I have. Sure, I have good & bad days (i.e. when my bgs are high, those are bad days), but as with Anything in life, I roll with the punches & move on. I'd also go so far as to say I like having Diabetes. It has opened my eyes to better health management, being More aware of the health of those around me, and gave me the ability to meet people from all over the globe - near or far!

Sorry, but I felt the need to say Something.

andypoo

03-28-2007, 01:08 PM

Dewey,You and Gangrel and deusxm are absolutely right! That's why we love you guys, you keep that manner about you that says keep on plugging away! We all on this forum want to believe thre's a cure,but until then we've got to keep a steady course, Look forward! I also had a grandmother who I can remember,I loved her so much ,she died of the same heart disease that I have now. But I now have medicines that help me to live a longer,heathier ,happier life than she got to have. So,yes We really don't have it so bad,we can "control "our Diabetes and heart disease,when not too long ago that was just ,"On The Horizon".

June91

03-28-2007, 02:12 PM

Yes June, but I see it all as Vive la difference. I love all of the opinions expressed here. Somewhere among all of them, we each find the thing that works for us.

This forum is the exact right place to come to discuss these feelings.

I think we can all agree that there is no right or wrong when it comes to feelings. A while ago, in an old thread, Dewey said she wasn't sure she'd accept a cure and I couldn't understand at first. I honestly thought there must be something wrong with her! Then I realized that is the way she feels and therefore that is what is right for her. It has made me think before I judge people, which is a good thing for most human interactions.

DeusXM

03-29-2007, 04:40 AM

Well, I have not seen to many people falling over from the bubonic plague, polio etc but perhaps you are right. In fact if you are right then this does not bode well for ther ever to be a cure right?

Not really. By a similar token of logic, people in 1930 would have said it was impossible to get to the Moon. Just because something hasn't been done before doesn't mean it isn't possible.

The point I've been making all along is that the last 10 years have seen dramatic leaps and bounds in how we tackle all sorts of conditions. In fact in terms of diabetes research we have come further in the last 5 years than we have in the last 50. That's the reason for my total and utter belief that a cure really is about 20 years away. Like I said, people may have been blithely told by doctors that a cure was 'just around the corner' but now the people actually tasked with making a cure are saying that. There is simply so much happening so quickly that a cure for diabetes isn't a question of 'if' - it's a 'when'. It's an inevitability because:

1. The way research is now going is like suddenly going into 4th gear after being stuck in first.
2. We now know far, far more about T1 than we have at any other point in history. We know precisely what we need to stop happening in our bodies and what needs to start happening in order to cure the condition. We also know how to do both of those things, in theory. All that's left is the practical application.
3. As a statement to everyone, you can argue all you want about there being too much money in diabetes treatment for anyone to find a cure. The fact remains that the system most of you are used to (the American one) may indeed create that culture. But the US way of doing healthcare is very much the minority route throughout the entire developed world. For most countries, it is far better for their economies to cure, rather than treat. And countries have the ability to put considerable pressure on pharmaceutical companies and do their own research. Not to mention the faith I have in the essential goodness of people - there really are people out there who want to cure diabetes and there are enough of them out there to do it.

I'm not saying the road will be easy or short, or that a cure will be there in 5 years time. But it absolutely will be there in around 20 years or so. And in the meantime, I'll just clarify a misunderstanding. Yes, diabetes is a pain in the arse of a condition and it's not fun or necessarily easy to deal with. And yes, it can be a big deal sometimes. I'm sure I'm not alone here amongst the guys on this board when I say that a hypo can come along at a REALLY inconvenient time. You know what I mean!

But if I have to be saddled with a terminal condition then I'm glad that it's one that generally I can have control over. I certainly can't think of any other permenent medical disorder I'd rather have, because in comparison with all the others, it really isn't that big a deal.

E-NICE

03-29-2007, 07:28 AM

Talked to my endo who is at the Cleveland Clinic. One of the better diabetes treatment centers. He says we should have something avialiable for the public in about 10 years. It would mainly just be switching from insulin to some other treatment, but one way or the other it's medication for life.

DeusXM

03-29-2007, 08:28 AM

Personally I'm quite keen on chocolate body paint....or ice-cream...either's good.

Sorry. :D

condensr

03-29-2007, 09:23 AM

:vroam:

TMI TMI ! ;)

I'm not sure, but I think the next big step might be closed loop monitoring/dosing. Here's hoping for a biological fix, though!

AndreLaplume

03-29-2007, 10:41 AM

apathy does not drive change..emotion does....

Dewey

03-29-2007, 10:56 AM

apathy does not drive change..emotion does....

Maybe I'm misunderstanding something, but who here is being "apathetic?"

Gangrel

03-29-2007, 11:36 AM

apathy does not drive change..emotion does....

How does being hopeful of a cure make us apathetic? How does trusting the scientists to do their research, test out solutions, and report their findings equal apathy?

If you want to take your anger and emotion and put your child in harm's way by jumping the gun, finding an unproven cure, just because you're "emotion" wants it now while ignoring basic "intelligence", go ahead.

Dewey

03-29-2007, 12:12 PM

But if I have to be saddled with a terminal condition then I'm glad that it's one that generally I can have control over. I certainly can't think of any other permenent medical disorder I'd rather have, because in comparison with all the others, it really isn't that big a deal.
I agree 100,000% that in comparison to other, more serious ailments, Diabetes is really Not that big of a deal. It's how we take care of ourselves that will make the greatest difference down the line. I wanted to say one more thing with regards to everything I've read on this thread:

"Life is a terminal disease!" At least it is, if we all think about it. We're born, and from that moment on, our days are basically numbered. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I can rest assure that when all's said & done, NONE of us are getting out alive.

It is how we CHOOSE to live our lives that makes the biggest difference as to how things pan out. If we harbor a great deal of negativity, then we'll likely have a lower quality of life. On the other hand, If we "play the cards we're dealt" (as was said), and do it with a strong will & mind, there's really Nothing we can't overcome or make it through (other than death itself). In the end, we don't get the final say...but while we're here, we can try to make a difference and make the most of life & living.

Just some food for thought...

June91

03-29-2007, 04:15 PM

It is how we CHOOSE to live our lives that makes the biggest difference as to how things pan out. If we harbor a great deal of negativity, then we'll likely have a lower quality of life. On the other hand, If we "play the cards we're dealt" (as was said), and do it with a strong will & mind, there's really Nothing we can't overcome or make it through (other than death itself). In the end, we don't get the final say...but while we're here, we can try to make a difference and make the most of life & living.

Now that's a good one for putting an end to this debate! :congrats: Thank you.

All I have to do now is collect your other posts of this nature, publish a self-help book and get rich beyond my wildest dreams which will make me a lot more positive regarding my life :rofl:

Seriously now, I was starting to love this thread by the time we got to fixing lows with panties...

designdb

03-29-2007, 04:38 PM

Thought I'd already explained this. In fact I went to huge effort to try to put together a pretty good analogy for what's happened.

I thought I explained also - It's never going to happen - Give it up!

Deal. PM me and I'll send you my PayPal account details.

You bet when I see the famous cure then I'll be looking for the famous DeusXM.

When I get that cure, I'm using your cash to buy the world's biggest bath tub at Ben and Jerry's.

I'm sure you'll been in there with both Ben and Jerry.

Siren

03-30-2007, 03:15 AM

I'm putting my best thoughts with Dr Denise Faustman's discovery which is just what you described, Injecto. Yay for Lee Iacocca for jumping in to help it happen. And yay for the other researchers who have worked on using the same approach to also make it happen. Thanks Deus for the good background information.
Mich

She's my heroine.

I think alot forget how complex the human body is. The United States dumps billions into the flu vaccine every year. And they throw out even more supplies every year as it's unused. Heck, I think there are either only one or two companies that still produce the flu vaccine because they found out how unprofitable it was.

My point is that not everything makes money. If a company wnated to make billions then they would have found a cure for the flu that is a permanent fix. But the problem is it MUTATES every year. I think alot forget that just as the body wants to fight the illness of the illness wants to fight the body back. What is the purpose of chemo? It's to mutate the "bad" cells in the human body to the point that they die off. That's what radiation does.

So unfortunately it will be nearly impossible to ever truely cure something. The answer will be how well can we treat it without causing any other harmful side effects. And I think for diabetes that will just be suppressing the autoimmune disorder and then regrowing islet cells.

Diabetes is a disease, not a virus. It doesn't mutate. Your example is futile, especially against Mich's example of a very wealthy man (my other hero), driven to cure diabetes by the death of his wife. Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted.

mcneely

03-30-2007, 04:36 AM

I've been hearing every year, "A cure is just around the corner" for the last 30yrs by the lying media. So I'm here to ask the liars, WHERE IS IT??????? I'm still waiting!!!!!

Don't plan on a cure being here anytime soon. In other words, "Don't get your hopes up" it will never happen. If it does I'll give everybody on this forum a $1000.

You might want to stick that 1000 bucks back in your pocket. You are going to need it when the "cure" does hit the market, because it is not going to be cheap!

DeusXM

03-30-2007, 04:46 AM

I thought I explained also - It's never going to happen - Give it up!

Not really. I put forward some sound scientific, ethical and economic reasons why a cure is coming within the next 20 years. You put forward a criticism of how the media reports things. That wasn't really an explanation of why a cure is never going to happen. You said, "Don't get your hopes up" but you've yet to actually put forward a reason for that pessimism.

You bet when I see the famous cure then I'll be looking for the famous DeusXM.

I'll be in the queue waiting for the cure. I'll even save you a spot if you like!

I'm sure you'll been in there with both Ben and Jerry.

Fine, be a whiny little brat. The fact that you're just resorting to character attacks just goes to prove you don't actually know what you're talking about, so we can safely disregard your personal opinions on the cure as being worthless. I'm done with you.