random question....

[shabbie]

why is it that the docs try so hard to preserve the life of beta cells in someone who is newly diagnosed?

i just dont get it. :confused:

[Funnygrl]

Because the more beta cell function you have the easier it is to control blood sugar.

[Mich]

And maybe because: Faustman Lab- Research (http://www.faustmanlab.com/research.html)

[Scratch]

Because the more beta cell function you have the easier it is to control blood sugar.
Yep, that's a biggie. It's when all your beta cells have been extinguished that control for a type 1 gets seriously more difficult. Having some beta cell function provides a useful cushioning, if you're on MDI it provides some variance to the basal curves and it also automatically does some bolus correction.

[gambi]

why is it that the docs try so hard to preserve the life of beta cells in someone who is newly diagnosed?

i just dont get it. :confused:

What exactly do the do to try and preserve the beta cells?

[JediSkipdogg]

What exactly do the do to try and preserve the beta cells?

Usually it's by just taking insulin. The sooner a full insulin regime is started the longer the beta cells will last as they won't have to work as hard. There is also some thought that for a type 1 the immune attack occurs more rapidly when beta cells output the most.


As for why to preserve it, the above have noted it in it's easier to control through the body will do some corrections on it's own and also due to recent research. Most research taking place to a better treatment option is with those newly diagnosed.

Dr. Faustman is working on a breakthrough research that may in a sense reverse type 1 diabetes and allow the body to do everything on it's own. It's not a cure as pills will be required, but it allows the pancreas to fully manage sugar intake as it should, providing no more worries of accurate carb counting and such. Two pills would be taken, one would suppress the immune attack on the beta cells and the other would enhance the speed at which they regenerate, so as they are killed off, they come back much faster. With her research to date it's shown great results in newly diagnosed patients. I don't think she has fully gone into the ancient patient research yet where people have had diabetes for 20+ years. Those, it's unknown if it can be reversed.

[REDLAN]

I had a read about this Dr. Faustman. Her ideas are very interesting.

there is quite a bit about her on wiki

Denise Faustman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denise_Faustman)

Her idea is to use BCG (the bacteria used for vaccination against TB). This bacteria stimulates TNF-alpha, which causes T-cells to self-destruct. (from memory I believe this is how TB manages to evade the body's immune system). TNF-alpha tends to target rogue T-cells.

First the good stuff...

1) BCG cured NOD mice (non-obese diabetic mice. These mice spontaneously develop type 1 diabetes). And this result has been confirmed by at least 3 other labs.

so it works in mice...

now for the not so good stuff...

1) there is no confirming data that BCG has any effect on type 1 in humans. Cohort studies do not show any protective benefits for BCG vaccination in children. Early human trials have not shown an effect either. Many have concluded that TNF-alpha is not significant in the development of type 1 in humans - this wouldn't be the first time that promising treatments in test animals have not carried through to humans.

2) Dr. Faustman believes that they have not yet reached a therapeutic dose for BCG - which is a reasonable hypothesis - however before we get excited by this treatment - it has to be delivered by injection - injection with BCG is accompanied by several side-effects - including ulcers, scarring, headache and fever. Bigger doses also equal MORE side-effects, and possibly ones not noticed using smaller doses for vaccination.