Stem Cell Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes Is Promising

In a historic trial, 13 out of 15 young people with Type 1 diabetes have been able to give up insulin for 6 months to 3 years after undergoing stem-cell transplants from their own blood, the Associated Press reported today. The small but promising trial is ongoing in Brazil where tracking of the participants, aged 14 to 31, will continue to monitor long-lasting results. While risky and potentially life-threatening, none of the patients has died or suffered lasting side effects, raising hope that this ground-breaking treatment may lead to a "cure" for juvenile diabetes.

"It's the first time in the history of Type 1 diabetes where people have gone with no treatment whatsoever ... no medications at all, with normal blood sugars," said study co-author Dr. Richard Burt of Northwestern University's medical school in Chicago.

Should larger, more rigorous studies confirm the initial results, stem cell transplants could become standard treatment for people with Type 1 diabetes and could open new avenues for the treatment of the more common Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects 1 to 2 million young adults in the U.S.; 12 to 24 million, worldwide. Type 2 diabetes affects 17 million people in the U.S. and is the fifth leading cause of death and the leading cause of new blindness. It often strikes adults in their 50s and is associated with excess weight and high blood pressure.

In the Brazilian study, all 15 patients were newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetics who were treated before the disease destroyed their insulin-producing cells. Dr. Burt said that timing was key to the success of the treatment. "If you wait too long, you've exceeded the body's ability to repair itself," he said.

Diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin regulates the body's blood-sugar levels, which when too high can lead to heart disease, blindness, nerve problems and kidney damage. In the study, patients were given several days of high-dose chemotherapy to shut down their immune systems. Stem cells harvested from their own blood were then introduced to build a healthier immune system that would not attack their insulin-producing cells.

If you have diabetes, make sure you see your doctor regularly, watch your diet and exercise regularly. The future holds increasing hope for new treatments.