Q: Can Type 1 Diabetes Be Cured?
Living with type 1 diabetes can be challenging. It’s normal to wish it would just go away or that there was something you could take to be cured. But, unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas no longer produces insulin. Insulin is a necessary hormone that signals your cells to absorb glucose (blood sugar) from the bloodstream. Your cells need glucose for energy, so insulin is essential to normal body function.
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction. This means your body mistakenly attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. These insulin-producing cells are called islet cells, and when they are damaged, type 1 diabetes results.
Thankfully, there are many effective treatment options for type 1 diabetes, and most people live healthy, normal lives.
Hope For The Future
While there is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes, researchers continue to search for new ways to treat it. Many new treatment options are undergoing clinical trials that provide additional hope for the future of diabetes.
Islet Cell Transplantation
In a revolutionary procedure, scientists harvest islet cells from a donor pancreas and transplant them into a person with type 1 diabetes. This procedure is still in the experimental phase; however, a small subset of people who have undergone the procedure have experienced insulin independence for 10 or more years.
Unfortunately, there are several hurdles to this procedure being approved for broader use. First, people who receive an islet transplant require immunosuppressant drugs to prevent the body from rejecting the cells. These drugs can have serious side effects.
Secondly, a transplant is dependent on the availability of a donor pancreas. These are in short supply, and even when available, the islet cells may be damaged.
Other Clinical Trials
The Diabetes Research Insitute Foundation is conducting several clinical trials to prevent or perhaps even someday cure type 1 diabetes. Avenues being studied include preventing the immune system from damaging islet cells and using high dose vitamin D and fish oil to reduce inflammatory immune reactions.
Managing Type 1 Diabetes Through Treatment
Working with a team of qualified medical professionals is the best way to care for your type 1 diabetes. While there is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes, there is quality treatment available to keep you strong and healthy.
Here at DETS we keep abreast of all the latest advancements in diabetes care, so you get the best treatment available. Schedule an appointment with our skilled team today.
