View Full Version : Cure within reach?
CarrieScott
03-02-2009, 06:02 PM
my step-dad seems to know some upper-level guys that are a part of this company . he says he will be getting me in on a clinical trial to cure my type 1 within the next year or so using stem cell technology.
has anyone else heard anything about this? any info you can share or insight you have on the pending fda approval?
check it out and share what you think.
sorry. company is regenetech. http://www.regenetech.com/
CarrieScott
03-02-2009, 06:08 PM
by the way, i've been hearing the "cure" stuff for years, and i know you have too. i'm pessimistic by nature, but at the same time am excited at the possibility.
check the left side of the website to get more information.
Gordonm
03-02-2009, 06:32 PM
35 years ago when I got type 1 a cure was 5 to 10 years away. This has been the longest 5 to 10 years ever. I hear these "cures" about every 3 months. Its not happening anytime soon.
lgvincent
03-02-2009, 06:45 PM
I took my first insulin injection on February 29, 1968. While in the hospital I was told there would be a cure within five years. I've been hearing that ever since and we're still five years away. So no, I do not believe there is a cure out there any time soon.
Coppernob
03-02-2009, 07:16 PM
I took my first insulin injection on February 29, 1968. While in the hospital I was told there would be a cure within five years. I've been hearing that ever since and we're still five years away. So no, I do not believe there is a cure out there any time soon.
I took my first shot about 6 weeks later in April, 1968 - does that make us almost diabetic twins? :D
At the time nobody said anything about a cure - they just said this is going to be your life and showed me how to get on with it! I guess then that I had no great expectations of ever being cured. However, I do watch all developments and innovations with great interest and hope. :)
A_Darling
03-02-2009, 07:26 PM
Stem cells are not a cure, they are a treatment. The underlying cause of the disease process (immune cells attacking pancreatic cells) is not stopped, only mitigated.
I just had a similar discussion with my parents just this weekend.
A_Darling
03-02-2009, 07:39 PM
hmmm, the website does not instill confidence, looks kinda amateur. index.html (http://www.regenetech.com/diabetes.htm)
The quote from Dr. Faustman seems a little out of place (stems cells aren't even needed with her form of cure), and the vagueness of the information is a bit off-putting.
sweetlife
03-02-2009, 08:05 PM
Such a touching post and words written by old members are comming from their hearts!
Oradev
03-02-2009, 08:18 PM
I agree. I have been diabetic for 15 years as was told that a cure was right around the corner at diagnosis. It's false hope as far as I'm concerned.
Badlands
03-02-2009, 08:56 PM
Stem cells show an incredible amount of promise. The recent restrictions being lifted on federal funding will be helpful moving forward. While I wouldn't be surprised to see the capability of "curing" diabetics with stem cells in the next few years, the question of availability and cost (it probably wouldn't initially be covered by insurance) are another big question.
lorilei
03-03-2009, 06:23 AM
CarrieScott..good luck..and thanks for being the volunteer...keep us updated..I agree the cure must be out there...so why not now??
mhall812
03-03-2009, 07:30 AM
Why would pharmacuetical corporations allow for that revunue to disappear?
andypoo
03-03-2009, 07:53 AM
I'm not being negative,just realistic when I say this. The "cure" is not a cure,it is a treatment .We,who already have the big"D" will only have a treatment that will take the place of other treatments,if we choose to go with that treatment,is up to us diabetics. A "Cure" would be that no more human beings would be born with the genetics to "get" diabetes. It is not in our time. All we can do is "control" it and treat it the best way we can with what is offered to us. Transplantation is one treatment and very successful,as I know a girl who was lucky enough to have this done and she has been insulin free for two years now.She was on dialysis,also and had a kidney transplant along with pancreas,she is living a dialysis free and insulin free life now.
Scratch
03-03-2009, 10:12 AM
No that's not correct.
A cure would be ending the autoimmune attack and restoration of enough beta cells.
I wouldn't consider pancreatic transplant promising or successful since it fails to address the autoimmune attack and it requires the taking of immune suppressants to prevent the body from killing the donated pancreas. Pancreatic transplants have a low enough success rate they are only done in event of kidney failure.
andypoo
03-03-2009, 10:45 AM
No that's not correct.
A cure would be ending the autoimmune attack and restoration of enough beta cells.
I wouldn't consider pancreatic transplant promising or successful since it fails to address the autoimmune attack and it requires the taking of immune suppressants to prevent the body from killing the donated pancreas. Pancreatic transplants have a low enough success rate they are only done in event of kidney failure.
OOPS! My bad! You are probably correct!
Lizzy
03-03-2009, 05:58 PM
I'm another long-time T1 that is not hopeing for a cure in my lifetime. Like others, I was told yearrrrs ago that a cure is just a few years away. But I have always accepted my diabetes and have gone on to have a so far great 45 years life with it. Hopefully some of you will see a cure in your lifetimes.
I'm another long-time T1 that is not hopeing for a cure in my lifetime.
You have 10 more years at this game than I do, and I feel the same way about cure. I was probably much older than you were when you started insulin, however.
I hate to be a negative blinkety-blink, but... wishing upon the star called "cure" seems to become (potentially) a denial of reality, in a sense. I mean - we have this or we have that, and we must live with it. For instance - brown hair or blonde hair. We could wish for what we don't have, but acceptance of what we do have, make the best of what we do have - is probably more mentally relaxing than the constant drip of hope that a cure is sometime soon. Just another perspective, anyway...
A_Darling
03-03-2009, 08:25 PM
You have 10 more years at this game than I do, and I feel the same way about cure. I was probably much older than you were when you started insulin, however.
I hate to be a negative blinkety-blink, but... wishing upon the star called "cure" seems to become (potentially) a denial of reality, in a sense. I mean - we have this or we have that, and we must live with it. For instance - brown hair or blonde hair. We could wish for what we don't have, but acceptance of what we do have, make the best of what we do have - is probably more mentally relaxing than the constant drip of hope that a cure is sometime soon. Just another perspective, anyway...
Good explanation. When I told my parents that I have no hope for a cure and that I'm okay with that, which seemed to puzzle them. Mom thinks that hope is required to keep a positive attitude and be happy, I told her I have no such need to fulfill my happiness. Isn't acceptance the last stage of that whole grief process anyway?, guess it just took a **** of a long time to get thru it.
anyway, on the original topic, if I'm gettin stem cells I think I want those fresh dead baby ones, not the old stale adult cells this company is sellin.
anyway, on the original topic, if I'm gettin stem cells I think I want those fresh dead baby ones, not the old stale adult cells this company is sellin.
YOU - are sooooo evil!! :cool:
I had to laugh when I read this one - thanks.
Scratch
03-04-2009, 06:53 AM
It's not necessarily a denial of reality to think that a cure could be found. Good argument could be made that it is a denial of reality to think that a cure would be impossible, that a cure will never happen. It is true that many of us when diagnosed with type 1 were told that a cure might be 5 years away, I remember hearing something like that being told to me almost 24 years ago now.
It is something of a denial of reality to not acknowledge that science is continually adding to what we know and there really is no denying the fact that a lot more is known about what is happening. At one time it was thought that type 1 could be cured by some sort of implantation of beta cells. Of course now we know that doesn't cure the underlying issue -- the body's own immune system killing the beta cells.
But you know what? Something big has changed in what's being tested now. Dr. Faustman has found an avenue of experimentation that's looking at how it is possible to re-educate the immune system, in a sense. Think about it. Our immune systems got a little bit messed up and ended up targeting the beta cells of the pancreas. But what if it's possible to remove the killer t-cells from being produced?
That's been done in mice who were autoimmune type 1 diabetics. The immune system was fixed in them. Not just once. But multiple times by differrent labs and researchers.
What's known about type 1 diabetes is a lot more than 20 years ago. The science has been fairly relentless and with what we know now about type 1 it's easy for us to laugh some at the predictions given to us about a cure being 5 years away. And it may be that we still don't know something important. It may also be that Dr. Faustman's idea is brilliant and what worked in the mice will work in human beings -- and it very well could.
It's not a denial of reality to think that a cure may be possible. It would only be a denial of reality if we were to neglect taking care of ourselves because we think that the cure is coming so soon it doesn't matter to control our blood sugar levels through the means we have available.
Lizzy
03-04-2009, 05:28 PM
I was probably much older than you were when you started insulin, however.
but acceptance of what we do have, make the best of what we do have - is probably more mentally relaxing than the constant drip of hope that a cure is sometime soon. Just another perspective, anyway...
Dan, it's good to see someone else with such a positive attitude. I totally agree. I was 12 years old when diagnosed and started on insulin.
It's not a denial of reality to think that a cure may be possible. It would only be a denial of reality if we were to neglect taking care of ourselves because we think that the cure is coming so soon it doesn't matter to control our blood sugar levels through the means we have available.
I agree with you regarding the news regarding Dr. Faustman especially. What I wonder, regarding research these days - what would research have done using today's methods and bureaucracy versus what the Cannucks did 90 years in generating the very first insulin for humans? I wonder if the protocols today would preclude the quick generation of an insulin product that happened 90 years ago? I mean, within a couple years, the first insulin was being marketed and used by patients in need of a method to manage.
My suspicion is that the patient has lost ground compared to the multinational corporations and the almighty dollar. Cut the Faustman initiative lose from the bureaucracy and we might imagine some gains within our lifetime. However, as valuable as the required protocols may be for some medical reasons, I doubt if much movement beyond insulin delivery systems will progress given the "protections" that are in place these days. Can you tell I am not impressed with today's technology and bureaucracy? They are stifling innovation and certain progress.
I was 12 years old when diagnosed and started on insulin.
You are my age exactly! However, I had another 10 years free from insulin than you did :)
IrishJoe
03-05-2009, 04:58 AM
anyway, on the original topic, if I'm gettin stem cells I think I want those fresh dead baby ones, not the old stale adult cells this company is sellin.
Noooo dead babies is baaad. Plus they haven't actually cured anything compared to adult ones! (they tried to treat ones guy and gave him cancerous tumours instead .. revenge of the zombie baby!) Whereas the adult ones have helped to cure lots of stuff and also are avaialable more cheaply. Baby ones are pushed because a lot of companies make $$$$ selling embryos. And the bloke in japan who thought of the idea (initially using embryonic stem cells) has said that now we dont need to use dead baby ones because not only are do adult ones have more potential but also it avoids any sticky ethical issues.
So yeah gimme some stem cells and poke them until they grow in to autoimmune resistant islets please! I CAN HAS PANCREAS?
pattywmom
03-05-2009, 05:23 AM
I have been diabetic longer than not. I do not recall what it's like to be able to "just eat" or drink or exercise or sleep or "just anything" for that matter. I wonder how disruptive it would be if suddenly what has been my detested partner, the Ruler of my Life for so many years were to suddenly disappear ... ?
It'd sure be strange, but I'm willing to give it a go!
I hope it's real -my understanding is that the autoimmune was a single attack which destroyed the cells and didn't 'live on'. Am I wrong about that?
...my understanding is that the autoimmune was a single attack which destroyed the cells and didn't 'live on'. Am I wrong about that?
You express the same understanding I have had also regarding diabetes.
However, the plot certainly thickens from day to day.
While this is not news, it was new to me, and I have not done the search of diabetesforums archives to see if alloxan is mentioned, but it certainly sounds like a substance that is not desireable.
From Wiki: "Alloxan does not cause diabetes in humans."
The article they mentioned is from a new-to-me journal called Diabetologia (google searh Diabetologia) which appears to have some in depth articles regarding diabetes, if anyone is interested. I found a link to the full article published in 2007. While I have not read the 8 pages in the article, my brief review does not seem to support the safety of alloxan that wiki quoted, fwiw. Do a google search for: "The mechanisms of alloxan- and streptozotocin-induced diabetes" and the second hit on the list has the abstract plus an ability to download the complete article. I would provide a full link to the abstract but I am unsure of the policy of posting links here. Here is the link but you gotta replace the "-" with dot and replace the spaces with slash.
www-springerlink-com content e2450r1101642j8w
Tell me what you think about alloxan - it is used to make everyday flour "pretty" but it seems that it may be of unknown danger to some persons with genetic predispositions. Oh, well.
Scratch
03-05-2009, 07:58 AM
I have been diabetic longer than not. I do not recall what it's like to be able to "just eat" or drink or exercise or sleep or "just anything" for that matter. I wonder how disruptive it would be if suddenly what has been my detested partner, the Ruler of my Life for so many years were to suddenly disappear ... ?
It'd sure be strange, but I'm willing to give it a go!
I hope it's real -my understanding is that the autoimmune was a single attack which destroyed the cells and didn't 'live on'. Am I wrong about that?
The autoimmune attack is ongoing, maybe thanks in part to the fact that even longterm diabetics show evidence of having the body trying to regenerate beta cells. This is seen in how type 1 diabetics will retain some level of c-peptide in blood draws and c-peptide is a result of native insulin production in the body.
The immune attack is ongoing, that the body is trying to regrow its beta cells is ongoing. Remove the autoimmune attack and it's very likely that person will be cured. This was seen in the mice cured by Faustman and other labs, the autoimmune attack was stopped and the mice regained native insulin production on their own without need of any sort of beta cell implantation.
The immune attack is ongoing, that the body is trying to regrow its beta cells is ongoing. Remove the autoimmune attack and it's very likely that person will be cured. This was seen in the mice cured by Faustman and other labs, the autoimmune attack was stopped and the mice regained native insulin production on their own without need of any sort of beta cell implantation.
Does anyone here have access to the Faustman team?
It would be interesting to see if any of their treatment schemes include dietary restrictions, i.e. white processed flour versus home grind whole wheat flour, and other types of researched natural dietary restrictions. I am wondering if the ongoing immune attack is the constant presence of certain dietary additives? As you see, I am on a warpath against alloxan :o but there may be other dietary things we assume are safe, but may not be safe. Maybe we need to go back to times 120 years ago when so many convenient dietary additives were not present, and maybe then we could alleviate the immune attack? Yeah, yeah - get off the internet, Dan...:cool:
cwathne
03-05-2009, 10:07 AM
Does anyone here have access to the Faustman team?
It would be interesting to see if any of their treatment schemes include dietary restrictions, i.e. white processed flour versus home grind whole wheat flour, and other types of researched natural dietary restrictions. I am wondering if the ongoing immune attack is the constant presence of certain dietary additives? As you see, I am on a warpath against alloxan :o but there may be other dietary things we assume are safe, but may not be safe. Maybe we need to go back to times 120 years ago when so many convenient dietary additives were not present, and maybe then we could alleviate the immune attack? Yeah, yeah - get off the internet, Dan...:cool:
i'm fairly sure that is not the case. People have been diagnosed with diabetes as far back as 1000BCE in egypt; doctors called it something like "sugar urnin." I dont think they were using artificial ingredients in flour back then.
A_Darling
03-05-2009, 06:50 PM
If it's not alloxan then it's teflon, if it's not teflon then it's BPA, if it's not BPA then it's lead, if it's not lead then it's dioxin, if it's not dioxin then it's high fructose corn syrup, if it's not high fructose corn syrup then it's processed flour, if it's not processed flour then it's beef, if it's not beef then it's mercury in fish, if it's not mercury in fish then it's ..............
**** it, there are too many poisons to pin it on one in particular. I would be that nearly every piece of plastic or paper or metal you touch or come near is leaching some sort of industrial chemical into you or the environment. we are doomed.
have a nice day :)
and btw, bring on the zombie babies, I've got a pair of boots that I've been meaning to try out.
and btw, bring on the zombie babies, I've got a pair of boots that I've been meaning to try out.
Wonderful!!
And, I agree.
Just that in the case of the other toxins you name, there is no direct connection stated in literature with diabetes. That caught my attention with my reading about alloxan. But... I don't eat much processed flour anyway. I don't ever see the teflon or HFCS, etc connected to diabetes - merely bad health effect - but the alloxan is in the literature as relates to diabetes - that caught my interest. I mean, I can't do anything about it now, but... perhaps someone else can alert the public to the alloxan malady for another generation before we become start generating teflon babies that survive on HFCS.
Be careful.
sparrow1
03-05-2009, 09:28 PM
And now another study published in Diabetologia points to an enterovirus
BBC NEWS | Health | Virus 'triggers child diabetes' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7926026.stm)
But one wonders which came first, the chicken or the egg.
A_Darling
03-05-2009, 09:51 PM
And now another study published in Diabetologia points to an enterovirus
BBC NEWS | Health | Virus 'triggers child diabetes' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7926026.stm)
But one wonders which came first, the chicken or the egg.
hmmm, it's good research i suppose, but the sample size is rather small and does not seem like a large enough population to prove the "environmental effects" theory. I don't doubt that there are environmental triggers of the autoimmune response in Type 1 diabetics, I just don't think this data supports or negates the theory.
Sampling 72 children who died within 12 months of being diagnosed and comparing it to 50 non D child samples is an incredibly small test population for such conclusions. Sounds like his research is more focused on enterovirus detection and this was just a way to prove his technique/instrumentation and tie in with some empirical evidence about diabetes.
vBulletin® v3.6.4, Copyright ©2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by
vBSEO 3.3.1