Embryonic stem cells advance diabetes cure

Hello, the big question is for me if this new techniqe will allow transplants without immuno depresent medicine.
If this will be the case, then we will finaly have a true cure for this diesease.

I agree with "Fredrik" that this news item is only interesting, unless this new transplant technique eliminates the need for immune system suppression.
A friend of mine had pancreas and kidney transplants several years ago, and of course had to take the immune supression drugs. After seeing her torment and complications with long-term treatment with those drugs, I would much prefer to stay with my four shots per day insulin regimen.
My opinion is that the immune suppression drugs therapy following a transplant degrade life quality significantly more than living with diabetes through insulin treatment.

My question is that I made it 24 years the first time
without my islets being rejected so another 24 years would be most welcome. If this another one of those "well, maybe in 10 years," it will be another disappointment.

The true cure would be to harvest adult stem cells (from the diabetic), and have them turn into pancreatic beta cells.

As Fredrik and Steve mentioned,the difficulties coupled to immune supression drugs are rarely discussed. I would like to know more about these difficulties and how long the transplant might work. I have not heard of transplants continuing to function even as long as five years!

One of the amazing lab demonstarted benefits of stem cell research is our existing ability to 'clone' stem cells to be a match for an individual's own DNA. The process is called Somantic Nuclear Transfer.

Once the stem cell is changed to an individual's own DNA the cells multiping are the individual's own cells with literally no possibility of rejection. It's one's own cells for use as medically required.

I agree with everyone that even if stem cells can be turned
into beta cells the immune suppresant drugs are just another
problem. However if Paul is right and there is now a process
that allow stem cells to match an individuals own beta cells there should be no need for immune suppresants. Is there such a promising process? Like everyone else I am sick of hearing promising treatments or cures only to be told "in another ten years".

Please write more about the exact process by which this occurs or direct me where I may find this information. Thank you.

Re: Mary and Paul's comments -- it seems to me that even if you can re-create beta cells that "match" your own beta cells, you would still need immuno-suppresant drugs. Why would your immune system react differently to new beta cells? It attacked and killed your original ones... If anyone has an answer, I'd love to hear it.

Inspite of the current administartive's restrictions on funding and supporting this research, much progress is being made. Unfortunately, at this moment, no one can use NIH funds or equipment in this effort. The US Senate is reviewing legislation to loosen these restrictions. Support their efforts if you can!

Can suggest some research resources. One of which is commerial the other governmental. Geron is a CA based research entity which holds over 200 patents in the area of hesc. They have funded reaseach in conjunction with WARF and share and license some very important stem cell IP with WARF. Their web site has utd research notes; www.geron.com.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is moving toward funding $3bil over the next 10 years exclusively for stem cell research/implementation. Their site has links to the logic/reasons for their support of this important research. www.cirm.ca.gov

Recent research, with spinal cord damage, indicates stem cells not only reconnected the broken connection but also created the enzyme coating which allowed effective transition of signals.

How stem cells know what role to play in a specifc environment is yet unknown. But the rejection rate has been nil when the DNA match is correct.

With $500mil spent on diabetes treatment per year in the US alone, the financial incentive to find an alternative management protocol is substantial. Fresh stem cells might well be able to replace the destroyed pancreatic cells missing/lost in diabetes patients.

There is far better reserch out there being done to cure type one diabetes. Dr.faustman in boston cured mice of type diabetes with an in expensive drug see link: http://washtimes.com/op-ed/20050310-085559-6940r.htm

Diabetes is bug multi hundred billion dollar business if its cured many large powerful companys will lose a millions and in some cases go out of business. There is no money in curing diabetes compaired to the amounts of money currently made selling products to "treat" diabetes. These companys have a strong grip on the media:

http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read,4,4126.html

http://www.iacoccafoundation.org/news_articles.htm

i really think that usage of stem cell will have great potential in taking care of diabetes and thus we can change a statement from the history that diabetes is a disorder which can not only be controlled but can now be CURED.!!!!!

IF WE GET THE TRANSPLANT (FOR TYPE-1) .WILL THE TRANSPLANT LAST FOREVER?OR WE NEED IT AGAIN? PLEASE MAIL ME THE WHOLE PROCEDURE FOR THE TRANSPLANT INCLUDING THE COST OF TRANSPLANT.

I think that embryonic stem cells have tremendous potential of differentiantion into all types of body cell, using the same cells they can be converted to insuline producing cells and thus could be used in effective treatment of diabetes.

If Patel et al have already implemented stem cell
therapy in Bangkok with the Israelis when will this
life saving, prolonging,improving therapy be available and accepted in this country ? Anybody have a guess ?
in this country ?

Actually, embryonic stem cells don't make the beta-cells that produce insulin. What they thought came from the cells came from the growing medium. They DID form tumors, though. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14968299&dopt=Abstract

Conversely, adult stem cells have taken over 80% of those in the trials off insulin. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=37226 and http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_110201058.html

BUT, more recently the beta-cell/insulin production issue came into question as the causal factor in diabetes - that in some cases it may be autoimmune
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=16929

More: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060328005384&newsLang=en
AND, there is a vaccine in the works http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/regional/s_437457.html

Don't drink the Kool-Aid ... adult stem cells are doing what hES only 'promise'. For more info go to: StemCellsCure.info

Those were heart - and used with patient-supplied ADULT stem cells ( http://www.thaiwebsites.com/adultstemcell.asp ) so who knows what the hold up is.

To find out what stem cell therapies are currently recruiting in the US, search: http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov

Both Type 1 & Type 2 trails were recruiting at the time of this post.

Stem cell therapy and gene therapy for diabetes and hearing loss or any other incurable disease should be developed fast and clinically tried on humans. I am fed up with news of curing diabetes/deafness in animals without giving a hopeful time frame for a cure in humans. There will always be someone hopeless to take the risks of trials instead of sufferring indefinately.As the results in animals prove immediately next step should be to target humans.This is not happening, there are long gaps os disappointment. I have become wary of Gene/stemcell therapy which talk is going on for decades without effecting a single cure in humans. Scientists should be aware of the anxiety and hope of people whilethey work!

i agree with dasha. If the advancement in gene/stem therapy takes longer then many of the needy people will be deprived of its benefit. Scientists should understand the anxiety and hopes of the pained people. And i m sure there must be people willing to take a logical chance in using stem therapy as cure

My understanding was the insulin production was a result of the growing medium - that hES did NOT produce beta-cells, but DID produce tumors. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14968299&dopt=Abstract

Furthermore 85% of T2 diabetics were off insulin using their own cells - without tumors http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=37226

Because T1 is more of an autoimmune, more islets are not the 'cure' just a treatment of symptoms. Perhaps rebuilding the immune system (Like Dr. Burt in Chicago does well w/MS, Lupus, Crohns) could help actually cure. Otherwise, breakdown will continue.

I am particularly concerned about the risk to women and their children's health as a result of donating eggs for hES research. Women can die (10% suffer some health consequence, OHSS) - and evidence climbs that their offspring are more likely to have bone deformaties, stillbirth, and cancer - AND few clinic embryos are eligible/suitable for research (http://www.rand.org/news/press.03/05.08.html) I think the health/lives of women and their children should be considered - and so does Science Mag.

I've read nearly all the comments about (curing diabetes)and I'm amazed at how the government was able to con all of us into this thinking that medical science is on the verge of a cure. I dont want to hurt anyone since I myself along with my two daughters are diabetics. Yet nobody has mentioned the very cause of disease and that's the cell. Not the beta cells but the cell period. When the rate of damage exceeds the rate of repair, disease will arise. When you cut yourself you don't have to tell your finger to heal itself because it does it on it's own. Where did it learn to do that. It comes down to a cellular level and curing the disease we have form it's very source (primary source) that doctors will NEVER talk about. They are only trained to treat not cure and to even mention cures to them would violate them. Our food is the cause of many diseases and since I don't have much writing space, let me refer you to a website (diabetescures101.com). You will be shocked at what you will read because it goes against all the FDA, the drug companies, and medical field, and the food industry who are all connected will not want you to know. I applaud research, my uncle himself his head of microbiology at a research hospital in Florida, but it's all based on money.

85% of type 2 diabetics are off insulin using their own stem cells http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=37226

Because David D. is correct - you have to address the
problem - especially in Juvenile Diabetes. There appears to be some movement towards success by knocking out and rebuilding the immune system w/patient's own stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells, on the other hand have not been shown to make the beta cells necessary for insulin production - it came from the growing medium. Embryonic stem cells DID cause tumors that killed a significant number of subjects.

There are 2 games with embryonic stem cells -

1: They have to be matured to the level of other stem cells to not form tumors (note: these were converted to ... ) - which means they will have to be surgically implanted. This is more dangerous than the 'mice cured in 40 days' after an injection of their own stem cells.

2) You need clones to not be rejected - and we can't clone a person. Furthermore, those who want to clone actually want to do it for drug testing.

3) There are few clinic embryos available for research (see the actual study) - and those are old and nasty. To get new ones you have to put women at risk - up to death. Feminists are moving on this one, questioning whether women should be put at risk simply to provide research materials.

The media ignores the results w/adult stem cells. Here is some more info Adult stem cells effect a cure Diabetes cure may reduce need for embryo cells.

http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2001/08.16/01-stemcells.html
US scientists believe they could use brain stem cells to cure diabetes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4480875.stm

Pancreas stem cells for diabetes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3584090.stm

And, just general info: http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/chapter7.asp
(BTW: The hES claims have been shown wrong "Insulin expressing cells from differentiated embryonic stem cells are not beta cells", Diabetologia. 2004 Mar;47(3):499-508. Epub 2004 Feb 14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14968299&dopt=Abstract )

This is all garbage....dont even read it! It seems every day there's "new hope" and "prooven research" but do I see anything happening? NO! I am 33 years old and I will bet that there will not be a cure in my lifetime, or my kids lifetime because ITS JUST NOT REALISTIC TO CURE A DISEASE THAT PROFITS PEOPLE SO MUCH $$$$... it's a harsh world we live in. but nobody cares. Living with diabetes for me is just something I have accepted and I try to not dwell on it.

There are many aspects of embryonic stem cells.I read in an article in TIMES OF INDIA that embryonic stem cells can be preserved for the future use of the embryo since i have read that article i am dyeing to know that what is the preservation technique by which the E.S.Cells can be preserved for so long and in which medium is it stored so that it stays alive for such a long duration of time PLEASE GIVE ME THE ANSWER.

There are reports pouring in everyday about either gene therapy or stemcell therapy curing some hitherto incurable disease. But in these reports nothing has been mentioned as to when the therapy is availble clinically? This is the most important aspect without which the outcome of the research is of no cosequence. Further such techniques should be made available to patients in all countries within the earliest possible time to end suffering & misery as the such research takes place normally in advanced countries and backward countries are left uncared for. Some large-hearted people should take lead in disseminating knowledge for money or otherwise. I mean, much publicity and education is needed. Otherwise crooked Doctors hide the latest techniques from people and continue with the old for their personal gains.

THE RESULTS OF SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS ACHEIVIED BY GENE THERAPY OR STEMCELL THERAPY SHOULD BE PROPAGATED IMMEDIATELY TO ALL COUNTRIES SO THAT THE SUFFERING HUMANITY IS BENEFITTED AT LARGE. SOME NEW ORGANISATION SHALL BE FORMED WHOSE DUTY IS TO TRAIN DOCTORS AND PERSONNEL AND TRANSFER ALTEST TECHNIQUES AT A COST. SUCH A FEATURE WILL BENEFIT EVERYONE IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR LOCATION IN THE WORLD. AT PRESENT ONLY FEW COUNTIRES ARE GETTING THE FRUITS OF REGENERATIVE MEDICINE AND OTHERS ARE LEFT IN THE LURCH! SOME DOCTORS HAVE FORMED A VISCIOUS CIRCLE SOME COUNTRIES TO CONTINUE WITH OLD WAYS OF TREATMENTS TO FURTHER THEIR INTERESTS.

It is a very nice research on stem cell.

It is alright that we find some happiness and solace and hope after reading the articles like the above one. But when actually is the ultimate cure coming practically to the clinics. This is not answered in most of such scientific articles and only the headlines are attractive. This is quite disheartening. Actually the diabetic is almost where he was about 20 years ago. The same type of fears of future haunt him. Many news items of stem cell or gene therapy cure appear and no further information will be available about its accessabilty to common people. Will this situation change and the scientists and authorities for approval of therapies devise methods for faster applications of new approaches of treatments and inventions? Otherwise the hopes of sufferers are lost and the future looks dark!

As of now, advanced countries like USA and that of Europe are not willing to try Gene therapy or stemcell therapy in the clinics on humans for fear of its long-term ill effects. Hence these therapies have to wait for thorough scientific examination by experts and long procedures of approving authorities like FDA.

This will be a draw back for the patients as their sufferings will continue with no hope for quicker relief. But less fortunate countries have already tried these methods long back taking a higher level of risks because of pressing circumstances. Now it is but wise to find out details of long-term effects of these therapies in the longest surviving patients of Gene/stemcell therapies after they have undergone the said therapies. This will be a very usefull exrcise since we can derive the safety and curative effects of these new therapies over a period of time.

It would be blessed if some organization who has the wherewithal to do this comes forward to evaluate this feedback. This will help everyone ih the field and also the patients waiting for the therapy. First the organization which had done the thearapy shall be located and then the patient. The probe shall be made with all available records to establish the truth.

What diseases do scientists not advocate for stem cell therapy and why? I'm doing a research paper on this topic.

Further such techniques should be made available to patients in all countries within the earliest possible time to end suffering & misery as the such research takes place normally in advanced countries and backward countries are left uncared for. Some large-hearted people should take lead in disseminating knowledge for money or otherwise. I mean, much publicity and education is needed.

http://basicsplit.org

Intermediate steps in the final approach for the cure of a disease is reported vociferously by newspapers and other reporting agencies. On seeing such headlines, the sick feel rejoiced only to be disappointed later after reading the article completely. Therefore it will be good on the part of such agencies to give appropriate headlines to articles instead of declaring cures of diseases in the headlines where it is not there, which is very disappointing to the already suffering people. This will go a long way in curtailing false hopes!

Okay, so what is the bottom line after reading all this? Will there ever be a cure? If so, how long is the estimate? What is needed by these researchers? Money or just a new set of politicians?

Actually, adult stem cells are miles ahead on this one.

Check out http://www.clinicaltrials.gov if you don't want to wait.

How does diabetes affect or relate to cells or the human body?

Good news, guys. Scientists have discovered a "diabetes jab" that prevents the body's immune system from further attacking the pancrease cells so that type 2 diabetes does not progress into type 1 insulin dependant diabetes mellituss.

Every single one of your points are perfectly fine, but the fact is some people live normal lives with diabetes. I've had it for 12 years now and I'm 14, I'm living a perfect life, I don't need to be cured. It's good that you did find a cure, but you need to realize people don't always want what is best for them. In my mind, diabetes is not a disease, it is a symptom that I live with everyday. I'm healthy, sporty, and I have diabetes type 1.

We are lucky to be in an era where tremendous developments have taken place, undreamt of previously, like the availability high-speed computers which can collect or analyse/make huge astronomical calculations/data or phenominon in fractions of a second. In spite of this, very less strides have been made to understand the complex maechanism of the human body and hence immense suffering due to incurables. A very few organic substances have been synthesized. Even a common thing like human blood has not been synthesised!

Learning to Repair human organs by regenerating organic tissue is still a long way to go. Scientists always think that enormous progress has been made in alsmost all fields without realising how much less has been made in curing human illness. Most modern madicines do not cure diseases but control them. Hence treatment is a life-long bother.

Capable brains should aim at understanding the structural and functional aspects of human body by using the latest electronic gadgets and obtaining information about the minutest defects. There are men who claim themselves to be gods or realised souls but they do nothing to cure people of diseases but only suggest external help like medical aid etc which is of no avail. They neither give clues as to how to cure a disease nor cure them without reservations. It is a pity and tragedy still people worship them! Whether the supreme intelligence called God wantonly creates defective bodies and diseases or its intelligence is not enough to make the body stronger or perfect. Such questions should be posed to Godmen. We understand by the nature of creation that at its head there must be a wicked and cruel force otherwise there can't be so much misery!

Medical scientists should instead of cloning sheep or other animals clone Godmen not only capable of curing seroius diseases but also with kind and generous minds so that they will not be looking at the patients wealth, fame, or position before favouring them. If someone does it, it would be the greatest miracle on Earth indeed. Now a days we see that the so called Godmen with healing and other spiritual powers are surrounded by the rich and the famous and the very few cures that are effected are cornered by them, and the genuinely deserving are left on the wayside.

Hi,

My name is Brandon and I am a diabetic... What I would like to say is that scientists need to bring out the cure. I know they have it... the problem is all they care about is money and why not they get billions of dollars a year to try and find a cure and where does all that money go? Right to their pockets. All im saying is that I'm sick of waiting. I'm a kid suffering with diabetes and it's not that fun. There always are reports that people all over the world are getting cured like the guy in the U.K. that just got cured with the transplant. Well, he's doing fine right now why not keep going with more diabetics? If you have to take some shots here and there, okay, it's better then doing it 4 times a day. Stop with all the scams and just bring out the cure for us. I guarantee you'll make more money bringing it out than you would storing it and saving it.

"It is I who bring both death and life" (Deuteronomy 32:39). As Dasharathi commented, we see the world as cruel and meaningless without hope for fulfillment in life. Have hope, then, in Christ Jesus. He has taken suffering and made it new, he has conquered sin and death. Therefore do not despair, for he is our true hope. May God bless us with a cure for diabetes soon!

These seems to be all promises, any one can give time frame.

I agree with all of you guys. I have had it for 5 years.

My daughter is a very brittle insulin dependent diabetic, and has been so since initial diagnosis 15 years ago. She cannot lead a normal life, being unable to even take a bath without someone else being around, "just in case." The unpredictability of her condition impacts on the entire family and imposes a huge burden on her young son. Every speculated cure brings her hope which always turns to despair. For people like her, this research is not encouraging but agonizing. A cure DOES need to be found for this condition, and indeed many others. All she has is hope that this might be achievable in her lifetime.

This article sounds promising as long as the body's own immunue system doesn't fight off the injected cells. I am hopeful for the patients that recieve this type of treatment. My heart goes out.

No matter what the future of medicine will bring. One thing is sure - presently, all the scientists in the world are as confused as the rest of us. I'm just sick and tired of hearing in the news that the scientists have discovered how a certain illness could be cured, but a cure will be available in 10 to 15 years time. Why don't they wait 10 to 15 years and announce the good news then?

Another annoying thing that I can't stand is when I hear that the scientists have dicsovered a test for certain disease and the test was available now. What's the use in having a test when they don't have any tretment or a cure for that disease?

It is obvious we are living in a very selfish world where the pharmaceutcal companies would go to any length to keep and protect their own products; just as long as it is in demand, they are happy. It is not a billions of dollars industry, but trillions of dollars. They don't want to cure you. They just want to treat you and make sure that you'll be in demand of their products again and again. Yes, unfortunatlly this is a wicked world that we are living in.

I am waiting for the day when will you cure type one diabetes.

I am eagerly waiting for the day when the type I diabetic is cured by this treatment.

How can I get embryonic or umbilical cord stem cell transplants?

Good posts all. As my father noted before he died at 90 the world is changing ever faster. And that didn't even take into account the Internet explosion.

The bad news is that in all these years since the '50s and the Salk cure for Polio (about the timeframe and span that the AMA and FDA came into full political lobby power and tightening control within their rank and file), there have been only advances in treating rather than curing.

The cash cow of treating is the mainstay of everything and it has a global scope. If a biotech company has a promising cure for anything, you can be sure that it will be bought up by big pharma to squelch it in a subtle way. The Beyers and Pfeizers are global organizations and are all powerful.

The good news is that information cannot always completely be squelched and there are a few sources of non polical funding big enough to make a difference and do their research. A few billion from the right source could start the ball rolling, but it will be a battle which will play out sooner than we think.

Maybe Bill Gates or a close relative or friend of his will get diabetes and it will become more meaningful than "helping the largest number of people" as he puts it.

Regarding my understanding of the rejection issue; I understood that there is none with stem cells. And certainly not if produced from the patient's own marrow cells. The whole idea of stem cells is to get past the transplantation phase of organs and body parts.

I saw where whole organs are being built from stem cells over a resorbable frame that would not have any rejection issues. It has been done clinically with patient skin cloning for several years.

I trying to deal with the worst case and hope for the best case.

whenis this going to happen already????

Recently in Jan 08 there was a wonderful news in India that One Mr Suresh sharma from Jaipur has invented a simple herbal cure for type II diabetes which was patented by him with the Govt Of India. But the drug is yet to hit the market and no further news is available on this. Some unconfirmed reports say that he is in Australia? Can anyone throw more light on this in the same columns. I would be thnkful.In my opinion there is no greatness in humans except the abilty to cure pain and disease. Greatness attached to any other thing is bulshit glorified due to inferior thinking!
Dasharathi

Dear Mr Dasharathi,

Last week I talked to Dr Suresh Sharma, he is in Jaipur only and the address is as follows:

Suresh sharma,

Janmangal Aarogya Sansthan,
417 4th floor, Laxmi Complex, MI Road, JAIPUR,

PH-0141-2440109

Regards

Mukesh Kumar, Gurgaon

we need to know the possiblty to do do transplantation of stem cellspancrease for aboy have 19 years.
best regardes
m.khalaf

Thanks to Sri Mukesh kumar for the address. My friend talked o Dr sharma to get medicines for me but is not willing to part with the same unless he feels the pulse of the ptient. But as I am in Bangalore I am not able to go to jaipur as I am having additional health problems. can Mukesh convince him to send the medicines by post to anyone in the world with diabetes since we are all able to adjust the dose by ourselves since it is only an herbal medicine. Most diabetics are seasoned and are capable of managing diabetes by themselves in consultation with their physicians for years.If he does that many sufferers all over the world are benefitted. A doctor has to be kind and generous always!
KR Dasharathi
KR Dasharathi

When I tried calling the number. They person who picked up the phone told us that Dr Suresh Sharma is no more. He expired. Is it true?

I have also read similar news that the original Inventor of diabetes cure has passed awayin Dec 08 and some other Vaidya By the same name is practicing and claiming to cure type 2 diabetes. Therefore I would be thankful, if Sri Mukesh Kumar gives us the correct position so that people are not mislead and truth survives!
Thanks and Regards
KR Dasharathi

Stem cell treatment for diabetes has been clinically available in Germany since 2006 at a cost of around $8000, but since it still carries a heightened risk of promoting cancerous tumors, and since in many patients it only incompletely treats their diabetes but does not cure it, this approach still has to be regarded as experimental.

Any treatment for diabetes involving tissue transplantation will require the use of immunosuppressive drugs which are more damaging to the body than diabetes itself is, so such approaches are foolish.

The most promising treatment at the moment is the implantation of porcine pancreatic islets encased in an immunological barrier. But this treatment is very expensive, costing about $120,000, and the transplant has to be repeated every few years, since the transplanted cells rapidly die out due to difficulties of supplying nutrients to the encasulated material. Also, these implants only rarely allow the patient to become insulin independent, and instead allow only a reduction in the insulin dose, until after a few years the cells die out and have to be replaced. This treatment is thus useful only for multi-millionaires.

Alternative approaches to curing diabetes will be slow, since the FDA approval process will delay the clinical availability for at least 15 years after its initial development. So as soon as a new treatment emerges on the horizon, be sure to add at least 15 years before expecting it to be available, and that's hoping its advance through the testing stages is completely successful.

Denise Faustman demonstrated that by knocking out the immune system of diabetic rats with a drug so toxic it cannot be used by humans she could induce pancreatic beta cells to regrow, but it is unclear exactly what type of growth stimulants have to be added to make this procedure truly effective. Her research has been stalled for four years while she tries to raise the $25 million needed to advance to stage two of the FDA's four-stage process, so even if she finds the money and everything goes well, patients would have to wait around another 9 years for this treatment to be available. I suspect that even Dr. Faustman no longer believes her approach would work, however, since her most recent research suggests that it is not the abnormal immune system which causes type 1 diabetes, but rather, the abnormal structure of beta cell tissue nerves in patients which causes the normal immune system to attack them. Since there is no way to make the beta cell nerve structure normal, there would be no way, other than unacceptably toxic immunosuppressive drugs, to stop the attack being constantly renewed.

There is also now increasing evidence that the diabetic complications do not arise from high blood sugar per se, but rather, either from the continuing autoimmune disease in type 1 patients, or from genetic factors inherited along with type 1 and type 2 diabetes genes. If further research confirms this evidence, then only unacceptably toxic immunosuppression, or genetic engineering, which will not be clinically available for another 50 years or so, will truly cure diabetes.