Where's my cure

[rachelkramer89]

Hey I'm Rachel
I am 20 and have had diabetes for 16 years
I came across this site looking for sugar free Margaritas recipes haha
When i first became diabetic there was all this talk of a cure. I was just wondering What is going on with that.

[foxl]

Yeah yeah, good question ... what is going on with that!

Welcome! Hope you learn a lot here and it sounds like you have a lot to share with us, too!

[It Ain't Over]

Welcome to the forums Rachel. Have followed several 'cure' announcements over the last few years. Most end with something about 10 years of study.
Some have failed along the way. Most of the transplants have more or less failed because of the powerful anti rejection drugs required. Most type 1's die from problems there and not the effects of the diabetes.
So the work continues. Lots of funding issues. Little money is directed to this one. Lots of politics in the way as well.

[Jonathan_R]

From what I have read, type 1 and LADA/1.5, is because of an over active autoimmune system. The immune system used to fighting off stuff, when it has nothing to fight, goes and finds something. In our case, the pancreas. The immune system attacks, and effectively kills the pancreas. Now an immune system like this is hereditary. Signs of an over active immune system are allergies, asthma, ADHD, myosthenia gravis (hopefully I came somewhat close in spelling that), graves disease, just to name a few.

In my case, I have severe allergies, ADHD, and asthma. My dad has myosthenia gravis, and my mom has graves disease. I was doomed.

In the case of type 2, thats insulin resistant. Which as I understand this has largely to do with BMI. The larger a person is, the more insulin the pancreas has to produce. The problem is, not the production of insulin itself, but that the cells are like locks, and the insulin like keys. Because the locks are say, worn down, the keys no longer fight right, so the pancreas, produces more and more insulin, but yet it doesn't fit the cell.

So we have 2 basic types of diabetes, that are caused by two different reasons. Now there are other diabetes. Diabetes Insipidus, which has nothing to do with blood sugar, and is a pituitary malfunction. It is classified by mass amount of urinary output.

So coming up for a cure for diabetes is far to generic. One has to do with the autoimmune system, another the pituitary gland/brain, and another cellular resistance.

To me, cellular resistance seems the easiest one to find a "cure" for.

[shiftzor]

.....In the case of type 2,.... Which as I understand this has largely to do with BMI. The larger a person is, the more insulin the pancreas has to produce. ...

I disagree with that type 2 diabetes while some type 2s do have excessive weight it's not a hard and fast rule. It's the insulin resistance that makes the body in a type 2 need more insulin not the size of the person. Now you may argue what came first the chicken or the egg i.e. person is fat then became a type 2 or the person was type 2 which resulted in them getting fat. I personally believe it's the as type 2 is a genetic disposition, however it's not an immune system problem.

Anyways sorry to get off topic. I hope for a cure in my life time but how close we are is anyones guess. There have been some important discoveries recently and they seem to be moving in the right direction. ;)

[Jonathan_R]

I disagree with that type 2 diabetes while some type 2s do have excessive weight it's not a hard and fast rule. It's the insulin resistance that makes the body in a type 2 need more insulin not the size of the person. Now you may argue what came first the chicken or the egg i.e. person is fat then became a type 2 or the person was type 2 which resulted in them getting fat. I personally believe it's the as type 2 is a genetic disposition, however it's not an immune system problem.

Anyways sorry to get off topic. I hope for a cure in my life time but how close we are is anyones guess. There have been some important discoveries recently and they seem to be moving in the right direction. ;)

I don't think it's off topic. I have a problem with type 2 being hereditary. If it is hereditary, then why are we seeing such an explosion of type 2's? It doesn't add up. What does is diet. The processed foods, which I love, and the obesity. When I was diagnosed, I weighed in at a nice 250 lbs, at 6' tall. That technically put me at obese. I am not at 184 lbs. Besides, I'm mostly going off what I have read. I agree, that type 2 is not an autoimmune problem. I thought I made it clear that autoimmune was type 1.

Anyway, I don't mind debates, as long as it's respectful and civil. Debates are supposed to be an exchange of information. I feel that a great amount of learning takes place when we enter debates. So you will often find that I debate a lot of things. Even things I know very little about. Why? To learn.

[Tattoo azz]

All my life i've heard the phrase "a cure is just around the corner" and all i can suggest is that you don't hold your breath! All the research suggests that we are closer to maybe finding a possible cure perhaps, maybe even as close as 5 years, but then it would need a few years to test on human subjects and then a few months/years to collate all the data. So be hopefull but don't expect anything soon.

[Supermario]

I've had the D for about the same amount of time and I've been hearing all the same things - "10 more years." It seems like 10 years is the magic number for getting our hopes up, but still keeping a healthy stock of supplies!

After countless "breakthroughs" and 10 year quotes, I've decided to suspend hope until a cure is on the table and available to the masses. I once let my self entertain the thought of living without the D and the imagined joy and freedom of it was so overwhelming I could barely keep it together. Then I woke from my little daydream and I was all bummed out about being Diabetic. I usually don't even think twice about it - it's just everyday life - but when you start banking on a cure, the daily absence of one is too much to deal with.

[shiftzor]

I don't think it's off topic. I have a problem with type 2 being hereditary. If it is hereditary, then why are we seeing such an explosion of type 2's? It doesn't add up. What does is diet. The processed foods, which I love, and the obesity. When I was diagnosed, I weighed in at a nice 250 lbs, at 6' tall. That technically put me at obese. I am not at 184 lbs. Besides, I'm mostly going off what I have read. I agree, that type 2 is not an autoimmune problem. I thought I made it clear that autoimmune was type 1.


What about all the skinny type 2s? The fraternity believe in categorising and pigeon holing people based on a few common facts which they find is the easiest way to diagnose and treat people. I personally don't believe it's so cut and dry there are so many exceptions to the rule. Why is it on the rise? Just because you have a disposition to something doesn't mean it will be triggered, how many potential type 1s die without ever being diagnosed/suffering from the disease? Could it simply be that environmental factors such as diet which are contributing to the increase in diagnosis for type 2s. I don't have the answer however I don't think you should tar everyone with the same brush as nothing has been proven yet.

[Delphinus]

Hey I'm Rachel
I am 20 and have had diabetes for 16 years
I came across this site looking for sugar free Margaritas recipes haha
When i first became diabetic there was all this talk of a cure. I was just wondering What is going on with that.


To be honest, I don't care so much about myself.

I want a cure, for my daughter, who has had type one much longer then myself. She is almost 13 now, and has had it since she was six.

Had I been able to, I would have given her my pancreas, and accepted MDI for the rest of my life.

[Supermario]

To be honest, I don't care so much about myself.

I want a cure, for my daughter, who has had type one much longer then myself. She is almost 13 now, and has had it since she was six.

Had I been able to, I would have given her my pancreas, and accepted MDI for the rest of my life.

Wow man, that must be heartbreaking sometimes. I have a 9 month-old daughter and I'm scared that she'll get diagnosed one day, and whether I know better or not, I'm would blame myself to some extent if she did become type 1. I couldn't imagine having to draw blood from a baby or stick her with needles. I think I'd feel the same way you do.

[A_Darling]

What about all the skinny type 2s?

Don't know, haven't seen one yet.

[Delphinus]

Wow man, that must be heartbreaking sometimes. I have a 9 month-old daughter and I'm scared that she'll get diagnosed one day, and whether I know better or not, I'm would blame myself to some extent if she did become type 1. I couldn't imagine having to draw blood from a baby or stick her with needles. I think I'd feel the same way you do.


Actually I have only tested her once or twice, and done exactly six of her injections, and only because she was a bit lazy or tired those days.

She has been doing all her own bloodwork and injections since day one.

When I feel like giving up, or when this annoying hitchiker I have picked up feels a bit much, I only think about her, and how she keeps at it.

[ant hill]

Hey I'm Rachel
I am 20 and have had diabetes for 16 years
I came across this site looking for sugar free Margaritas recipes haha
Hey Rachel :D, Welcome to a fun group of diabetes. Of course there are many recipes here as there is a forum dedicated to making delicious food. ;):D
When i first became diabetic there was all this talk of a cure. I was just wondering What is going on with that.

There's many talk of a cure and discoveries of great things that may help us in our quest of a more acceptable life. And the one thing that can make this happen is funds. So I would be waiting for a cure as it's like waiting for a late bus. :(

I have been a Diabetic for 38 Years and still learning.
Welcome to DF. :flowers:

[shiftzor]

Don't know, haven't seen one yet.

Ask on the type 2 forums if you don't believe me.


Keep watching these forums as there posts once in a while updating the current situation on a cure. It pays to stick around ;).

[NoraWI]

I think that the skinny T2s are misdiagnosed slow onset T1s (LADA) like I was. If you are 62 and become diabetic, they automatically pigeonhole you as T2. My nurse practitioner refused to give me insulin or order any autoimmune testing. After going downhill for over a year, I went to an endo who ordered both. And voila, I have plenty of GAD antibodies, which proved the T1 part and the insulin was literally a life-saver.

[kgm0612]

Hi RAchel & Welcome to the forum!

I can't help you with a CURE but I can certainly provide you with info on sugar-free/no carb margarita's! ;)

I found a company online called Zilch and order directly from them. Each box contains 10 individual packets. Rather than add water to the mix, I buy a carton of Minute Maid Light Lime-Aid, 4g carbs per 8oz serving, (I've also tried it with light Lemonade) and use that.

In a blender, add
1 cup of light Lime-Aid or Lemonade
1 packet of Zilch
Shot of Tequila
Juice from a slice of fresh Lime
1-2 cups crushed ice.

Blend until thick, pour into glass, and ENJOY!

Zilch Sugar Free Margarita Mixers for Low Carbohydrate, Low Calorie, and Diabetic Diets. (http://www.zilchmixers.com/)

Karen