Following are the latest discoveries in the field of type 1 diabetes. Researchers and scientists are trying hard to find a cure but till now they have not found the cure but we must not loose hope and I am sure that one day we will have the cure for type 1.
The Development of the GAD Vaccine
GLUTAMIC ACID DECARBOXYLASE (GAD) is an enzyme that leads to the production of an important neurotransmitter, a chemical that transmits information from one nerve to another. In the old times, it wasn't known that GAD is also made in the beta cells of the pancreas - the same cells that produce and store insulin. Type1Diabetes could be protected from the disease by receiving small amounts of GAD the GAD vaccine preserved insulin production without any adverse effects. The vaccine is called DIAMYD and may prove to be very valuable in protecting high-risk children from developing Type 1 diabetes.
The Possible Prevention of Type 1 diabetes with Oral Insulin
Oral insulin could delay or prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes. Now a much larger study is underway. If oral insulin works as the researchers hope, those who get it in their capsules will get type 1 later or not at all compared to those who get the placebo capsules.
The Possible Prevention of Type1 Diabetes with Intranasal Insulin
The basis of this treatment is the theory that exposing the mucous membranes of the nose to insulin will act like a virus to stimulate protective immune cells. These protective cells will counteract the damaging cells that destroy the beta cells that produce and store insulin. Diabetics who are found to have positive auto antibodies against insulin or GAD have a greater chance of developing Type 1 diabetes than those who don't have the antibodies. Some patients will get insulin, and some will get a placebo. Another study of intranasal insulin called Pre-POINT will involve giving the insulin to children at high risk of type 1 diabetes.
The Study of Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Continuous Glucose Monitoring is also being used in a study with an insulin pump wherein the pump responds to the CGM reading by supplying insulin to the patient. This is the closed-loop system that's the ultimate goal of treatment, a working "pancreas." So far the system has worked very well. It may be the temporary solution for type 1 diabetes until there's a way to replace and restore the beta cells destroyed in type 1 diabetes.
Contact Lenses That Indicate Your Glucose Level
Researchers have developed plastic contact lenses that change color depending upon the amount of glucose in body fluids. The glucose sensor could be embedded in regular contact lenses or worn as separate contact lenses for people without vision problems. It would change from red, indicating dangerously low blood glucose, to violet, indicating dangerously high blood glucose. A normal blood glucose level produces a green lens. The device works by combining moisture from the tear ducts with molecules of boronic acid in the sensor to create fluorescence. A potential problem is the delay between the level of glucose in the blood and its reflection in tear ducts. This work is ongoing and may reach the market in the next few years.
A Drug to Fight Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy causes pain and discomfort in the feet. Numerous drugs have been used in an attempt to reverse the neuropathy, but nothing has worked consistently until the introduction of SB-509. The drug currently called SB-509 has been found to cause the production of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor, which helps to improve the structure and function of nerves. SB-509 is being injected into both legs of patients who have type 1 diabetes and neuropathy three times over four months. Some people will receive the actual drug, and some will receive a placebo.
Drugs to Block the Immunity That Kills Beta Cells
Type 1 diabetes results when the process of autoimmunity destroys the beta cells that produce insulin. Two types of cells in the body are responsible for the immune destruction: T cells and B cells. T cells are the ones that actually attack and destroy the beta cells. B cells somehow promote the attack by the T cells. When symptoms develop in type 1 diabetes, within three months of the diagnosis, up to 80 to 90 percent of beta cells are destroyed but 10 to 20 percent remain to stop further loss of beta cells by giving a drug called RIXTUXIMAB to patients. RIXTUXIMAB is to lower B cells. A drug TRX4 can preserve or even improve beta cell function and reduce the amount of insulin that the patient has to take.
The Regeneration of Beta Cells with a Protein
A study was conducted in which a protein called recombinant Pdx1 was induced in type 1 diabetics and no beta cell function, and it both regenerates beta cells in their pancreas and turns liver cells into insulin-producing beta cells.
The Infusion of Stem Cells
One approach to preventing further loss of insulin production in newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes is suppression of the immune response that's destroying the beta cells. Obtaining stem cells, which are cells that haven't become any particular kind of cell like white blood cells or red blood cells, from each newly diagnosed patient. (The stem cells were taken within six weeks of the patients' diagnoses.) The patients received a high dose of an immunosuppressive drug to prevent the immune response that's believed to cause the destruction of beta cells. Then the scientists gave the stem cells back to the respective patients.
The Use of Cord Blood to Regenerate Beta Cells
The study, which is to be completed by 2009, will determine if the cells in the cord blood can change into insulin-producing cells and/or provide immune tolerance that will permit regeneration of beta cells.
I am a Urethane Technologist by profession. I don't know much about diabetes. I only know that diabetes is a disease we can only fight if we have the right knowledge.I know that if I will not learn I will die a miserable death like my grand parents, so I am in a continuous process of learning each and every day. I have been diagnosed pre-diabetes last year. By eating proper balanced diet, exercise and following "Eat to live and not live to eat" we can live a healthy, joyful life just like non-diabetics.
by Waheed Hassan
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Waheed_Hassan
The Development of the GAD Vaccine
GLUTAMIC ACID DECARBOXYLASE (GAD) is an enzyme that leads to the production of an important neurotransmitter, a chemical that transmits information from one nerve to another. In the old times, it wasn't known that GAD is also made in the beta cells of the pancreas - the same cells that produce and store insulin. Type1Diabetes could be protected from the disease by receiving small amounts of GAD the GAD vaccine preserved insulin production without any adverse effects. The vaccine is called DIAMYD and may prove to be very valuable in protecting high-risk children from developing Type 1 diabetes.
The Possible Prevention of Type 1 diabetes with Oral Insulin
Oral insulin could delay or prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes. Now a much larger study is underway. If oral insulin works as the researchers hope, those who get it in their capsules will get type 1 later or not at all compared to those who get the placebo capsules.
The Possible Prevention of Type1 Diabetes with Intranasal Insulin
The basis of this treatment is the theory that exposing the mucous membranes of the nose to insulin will act like a virus to stimulate protective immune cells. These protective cells will counteract the damaging cells that destroy the beta cells that produce and store insulin. Diabetics who are found to have positive auto antibodies against insulin or GAD have a greater chance of developing Type 1 diabetes than those who don't have the antibodies. Some patients will get insulin, and some will get a placebo. Another study of intranasal insulin called Pre-POINT will involve giving the insulin to children at high risk of type 1 diabetes.
The Study of Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Continuous Glucose Monitoring is also being used in a study with an insulin pump wherein the pump responds to the CGM reading by supplying insulin to the patient. This is the closed-loop system that's the ultimate goal of treatment, a working "pancreas." So far the system has worked very well. It may be the temporary solution for type 1 diabetes until there's a way to replace and restore the beta cells destroyed in type 1 diabetes.
Contact Lenses That Indicate Your Glucose Level
Researchers have developed plastic contact lenses that change color depending upon the amount of glucose in body fluids. The glucose sensor could be embedded in regular contact lenses or worn as separate contact lenses for people without vision problems. It would change from red, indicating dangerously low blood glucose, to violet, indicating dangerously high blood glucose. A normal blood glucose level produces a green lens. The device works by combining moisture from the tear ducts with molecules of boronic acid in the sensor to create fluorescence. A potential problem is the delay between the level of glucose in the blood and its reflection in tear ducts. This work is ongoing and may reach the market in the next few years.
A Drug to Fight Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy causes pain and discomfort in the feet. Numerous drugs have been used in an attempt to reverse the neuropathy, but nothing has worked consistently until the introduction of SB-509. The drug currently called SB-509 has been found to cause the production of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor, which helps to improve the structure and function of nerves. SB-509 is being injected into both legs of patients who have type 1 diabetes and neuropathy three times over four months. Some people will receive the actual drug, and some will receive a placebo.
Drugs to Block the Immunity That Kills Beta Cells
Type 1 diabetes results when the process of autoimmunity destroys the beta cells that produce insulin. Two types of cells in the body are responsible for the immune destruction: T cells and B cells. T cells are the ones that actually attack and destroy the beta cells. B cells somehow promote the attack by the T cells. When symptoms develop in type 1 diabetes, within three months of the diagnosis, up to 80 to 90 percent of beta cells are destroyed but 10 to 20 percent remain to stop further loss of beta cells by giving a drug called RIXTUXIMAB to patients. RIXTUXIMAB is to lower B cells. A drug TRX4 can preserve or even improve beta cell function and reduce the amount of insulin that the patient has to take.
The Regeneration of Beta Cells with a Protein
A study was conducted in which a protein called recombinant Pdx1 was induced in type 1 diabetics and no beta cell function, and it both regenerates beta cells in their pancreas and turns liver cells into insulin-producing beta cells.
The Infusion of Stem Cells
One approach to preventing further loss of insulin production in newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes is suppression of the immune response that's destroying the beta cells. Obtaining stem cells, which are cells that haven't become any particular kind of cell like white blood cells or red blood cells, from each newly diagnosed patient. (The stem cells were taken within six weeks of the patients' diagnoses.) The patients received a high dose of an immunosuppressive drug to prevent the immune response that's believed to cause the destruction of beta cells. Then the scientists gave the stem cells back to the respective patients.
The Use of Cord Blood to Regenerate Beta Cells
The study, which is to be completed by 2009, will determine if the cells in the cord blood can change into insulin-producing cells and/or provide immune tolerance that will permit regeneration of beta cells.
I am a Urethane Technologist by profession. I don't know much about diabetes. I only know that diabetes is a disease we can only fight if we have the right knowledge.I know that if I will not learn I will die a miserable death like my grand parents, so I am in a continuous process of learning each and every day. I have been diagnosed pre-diabetes last year. By eating proper balanced diet, exercise and following "Eat to live and not live to eat" we can live a healthy, joyful life just like non-diabetics.
by Waheed Hassan
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Waheed_Hassan
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