A potential cure for diabetes (x-posted from the Diabetes Support Group)

[EvolveOrConvolve]

This looks extremely promising!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/10/09/354708628/scientists-coax-human-embryonic-stem-cells-into-making-insulin

A team of Harvard scientists said Thursday that they had finally found a way to turn human embryonic stem cells into cells that produce insulin. The long-sought advance could eventually lead to new ways to help millions of people with diabetes.

<...>

"We are reporting the ability to make hundreds of millions of cells — the cell that can read the amount of sugar in the blood which appears following a meal and then squirts out or secretes just the right amount of insulin," Melton says.

The advance came after laboring for more than 15 years to find a way to turn human embryonic stem cells into so-called beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin.

<...>

And when Melton and his colleagues transplanted the cells into mice with diabetes, the results were clear — and fast.

"We can cure their diabetes right away — in less than 10 days," he says. "This finding provides a kind of unprecedented cell source that could be used for cell transplantation therapy in diabetes."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1271167

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. I've lost so many friends & family to this disease. Both parents were diabetic, a host of aunts &

uncles. This sounds promising, and may give hope to millions. Thanks for posting.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

3. That really sucks

Is it Type 1 or Type 2 that runs in your family? It looks like the treatment will work for both T1s and T2s (provided they can protect the beta cells in T1s from the immune system), but for T2s it looks especially promising.

[littlemissmartypants]

2. Kicking. Thank you. nt

[MADem]

4. Saw this on the news tonight. Human trials in a few years, they say.

Now, if "W" hadn't put the kabash on embryonic stem cell research during his reign of terror, maybe we would have had this cure out on the street already...?

[eridani]

5. Should have specified that this is Type I diabetes

Type IIs have plenty of insulin--in fact a lot more than average in order to overcome genetic insulin resistance.

[kdmorris]

7. Not all T2's do

After years of producing that much insulin to overcome insulin resistance, my insulin production is compromised.

[eridani]

8. True--eventually the pancreas starts to poop out

That's when Type IIs have to go on insulin. Just found out that I will have to start. Postponing that for 68 years was a good run, though.

[kdmorris]

6. That would be so nice!

No more insulin shots... though I'm also insulin resistant, so I'd have to keep up with diet/exercise to increase the sensitivity of my cells to insulin.

At first glance I thought that this would really only work for T1, but if you've burned out your beta cells, like I have, this would be very effective.