Reversal of Type 1, New Approach

[seacomp]

Article on reversal of Type 1 without using drugs or stem cells. Clinical trails in humans scheduled to start soon.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-03/chop-rrj032706.php

[scara]

not sure I get this... were the mice producing any insulin of their own when this worked? It mentions that the body regenerates the beta cells, does this mean that for Type 1's the body keeps trying to regenerate the beta cells but can't do it faster than they are destroyed? or were these mice and therefore the people that this might work for honeymooning?

thanks for posting the article!

[David]

New developments on finding a cure were recently on NPR with Dr Denise Faustman

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5299793

and on Today's 'Today Show with Dr Trucco

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=2365ae1b-437b-44b2-bf16-6f5ff225b35e&f=00

You also asked "It mentions that the body regenerates the beta cells, does this mean that for Type 1's the body keeps trying to regenerate the beta cells but can't do it faster than they are destroyed?"

In the Oct 2005 issue of Diabetes Health, an article claims that:

'New research presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in June 2005 suggests that type 1 “may be reversible by targeted inhibition of beta cell destruction.”

Pancreatic sections from 42 people with long-standing type 1 were examined. In 88 percent of the participants, beta cells were identified. The researchers say the number of beta cells was unrelated to diabetes duration and age at death, but it was higher in people with lower-than-average blood glucose.

“Most people with long-standing type 1 diabetes have beta cells that continue to be destroyed in the setting of low-grade inflammation,” write the researchers. “This implies, by definition, that . . . new beta cell formation must be occurring, even in the setting of long-standing diabetes.”'


More details here: http://www.joinleenow.org/html/press/070105.php

True, only 42 people were examined, but my experience makes me believe that this may be correct. About two or three times a year, I'll have what I call an " all day low" (or two). When this happens, I'll need very little bolus and have to eat more than usual to keep from going low. I could never figure out the cause but now believe that "new beta cell formation must be occurring" and they try to function (in addition to my exogenous insulin) until they get knocked down by my immune system. No proof, just my opinion.

David

[seacomp]

does this mean that for Type 1's the body keeps trying to regenerate the beta cells but can't do it faster than they are destroyed? or were these mice and therefore the people that this might work for honeymooning?
My understanding is that they are the same thing, "honeymooning" being when the beta cells are not all destroyed and are being regenerated, if I'm correct.
There was another study last week, that looked at the same period and using another method was also able to reverse Type 1 in mice.
It's beginning to look as if a "cure" for type 1 might be possible if the disease is caught early enough.
It won't come soon enough to help anyone at this forum, but not too far down the road, maybe, just maybe.

[mwalt2]

I don't think anyone knows for sure if beta cells try to regenerate or not in humans. If they do regenerate, as soon as one is made, it may be destroyed soon after (the immune system would only have to kill a few cells to abolish insulin production). That would be different from the honeymoon period when you have lots of beta cells and your immune system is just starting to destroy them (there are still cells left making insulin until the immune system kills them all).

[Harold]

Beta cells are replaced by stem cells from the spleen.

People that have had their damaged spleens removed after an accident often develope diabetes years down the road.