**Something Interesting On The News....... - Page 7

JasonJayhawk · #91 (**permalink**) 03-27-2007, 11:23 PM

Erich,

Thanks for the update. Looks like a re-hash of December's news, but it's nice to know their PR department is working hard!

My comments in the updates:

** They bring up Type 2 treatments more than once in the article. "BEYOND TYPE 1"... Not good!

** Real world translation: The research team needs more research money, and the only way to get research money is to pull in type 2 diabetes. This is not a good sign for research grants when they have to do this. That tells you there is little interest in finding a cure. Can you imagine how much unemployment would go up if people were cured? (Sorry, I'm tired, maybe I'm feeling more conspiracy-theoryish tonight).

** Theory 2: They're pulling in Type 2 diabetes because they like to make predictions on what their research can do, rather than what they have already accomplished. Too much forward-looking is a sign of dreamers in the lab word. I imagine the article was written for a different audience, though--perhaps the people who have the money.

Ailsa · #92 (**permalink**) 04-16-2007, 11:36 PM

Don't know if any of you are up with this?

Pig cell transplants bring new hope for sick Kiwis - 17 Apr 2007 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

I've been following this research since the beginning. I don't think this has been discussed here, but truly. this thread is too long to read all the way through. It's very interesting & I am considering whether I should put my name forward, although I imagine the queue will be fairly long. I've met several of the earlier participants & they're all mad keen to have another try. The best thing of course, is that you don't need anti rejection drugs.

AndreLaplume · #93 (**permalink**) 04-18-2007, 11:41 AM

...sounds like the issue of regulating the insulin needs to be addressed. Needing less insulin is nice but I wonder what the difficulties of maintaining a certain glucose level are. I wonder if the cells actually make it harder to maintain a perscribed level? Interesting though.

Ailsa · #94 (**permalink**) 04-18-2007, 11:22 PM

The idea of course was not to reduce the amount of insulin, but to get the patient off insulin entirely.
In the first trials they were unsure how many cells to use & worked on the safe side rather than give someone too many. I guess they will have a better idea next time round & will definately be aiming ti get the patients off insulin.
I have seen a video of the procedure & it's very simple. Takes less than 30 minutes & only requires local anasthetic. The cells are inserted via a metal tube, a bit like a straw, and can be sucked out if there are any problems. However none of the previous recipients had any problems.

VinceF · #95 (**permalink**) 05-31-2007, 04:45 PM

I'm not sure how to post links to other websites so You might try looking at Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. - . They have a bioreactor for growing out stem cells. They have had some sucess...2 instances of curing leukemia and have been funded by the nih to do studies (I'm not clear on this) about kidney or perhaps islet transplantation. Last I heard Canada was the place to get a transplant useing the Edmonton protocol.

Olidus · #96 (**permalink**) 07-11-2007, 07:35 AM

Note sure of those who have read the following information.

Pumpkin Extract May Help Treat Diabetes, May Help Protect Insulin-Making Cells From Type 1 Diabetes, Animal Tests Suggest - CBS News

Pumpkin extract may protect against diabetes

LifeScan Diabetes News -- Pumpkin could help diabetics avoid insulin shots

AndreLaplume · #97 (**permalink**) 07-12-2007, 12:35 PM

I need to by a lifetime supply before the pump makers, suppliers etc cut a deal with the chinese and bury it all.

momtomadison · #98 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007, 11:29 AM

I think it is called indositol powder. Are people really trying this to see if it works? Wouldn't that be the kicker if type 1 diabetics started using this stuff and began taking themselves off insulin. How great that would be. However, then there would be a shortage of this stuff and some big pharma company would buy them out and resell it to us for more than we could afford and insurance companies would refuse to cover it.

Just rambling.

Olidus · #99 (**permalink**) 07-30-2007, 06:04 AM

globeandmail.com: Seaweed ‘case' protects insulin production

Always good to hear new news on the subject.

mike9876 · #**100** (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 03:53 PM

Here is a couple bits on lettuce capsules containing insulin. The insulin gene is injected into the plant cells and it produces insulin in the leaf that is ground into a fine powered. Human trials have started and the professor behind reckons it will cure type 1 diabetics. At worse it will allow for insulin to be taken orally. They reckon it is dirt cheap to produce and it will be a cheap cure.

Insulin Capsules Have Potential To Prevent Diabetes Before Symptoms Appear And Treat The Disease In Its Later Stages

Local Professor Begins Human Trials For Diabetes Cure - News Story - WESH Orlando

JasonJayhawk · #**101** (**permalink**) 08-28-2007, 05:16 PM

"Insulin is not a cure." I wonder what mechanism he thinks will cause the alleged immune system response to stop destroying beta cells simply by eating lettuce with a gene added to produce the insulin protein.

I've heard of MS patients being treated orally with mylon sheath from cows to reduce the autoimmune response by retraining the immune system, but I'm skeptical when an article claims that something like this would "cure 21 million cases of diabetes" -- they don't even state the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, which makes the professor sound out of his league.

mike9876 · #**102** (**permalink**) 08-29-2007, 05:10 AM

Jason

Look at it this way. If it don't bring a cure they are hoping for it could do away with injections, something many people will be happy with.

I know it doesn't say if the mice where type 1 or 2, but to me it looks like they were type 1. I imgine the drug could be used to treat type 1 and type 2. I look at this way when it comes to research. If they come up with a treatment for type 1 it could trickle through to help type 2's and if they come up with a treatment for type 2 it might help type 1,s as well. I know type 1 and type 2 are different and why. This next link looks at a treatment for type 1 but it could be used for type 2 as well.

And with treatment below there is no need for anti rejection drugs.

Breakthrough In Transplants Using Diabetic Animal Model

sbuff28@charter · #**103** (**permalink**) 09-03-2007, 09:34 AM

There is always hope for a cure...

But when i read stuff like this over and over and over it just gets my hopes up. I've decided to stop reading new stories like that until i find one that says " DIABETES CURED! : ALL PRAY AND DANCE IN THE STREETS IN JOY!"

until then i boycott all diabetic news stories

I guess progress is progress after all though.

notme · #**104** (**permalink**) 09-08-2007, 05:28 PM

This story was on our local NBC affiliate tonight. Thought I would share one more story. They are doing human trials now.

UCF News and Information

trehard · #**105** (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 11:22 PM

I hate to burst your bubbles but the news is always flapping their mouth about NEW things. Twenty years ago the NEWS said there would be a cure in 10 years. Hey I'm still waiting!!! In other words, people don't ever get your hopes up. Just live life, take care of yourself, and go on because IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

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