Diabetics cured by stem-cell treatment

[nomo]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article1637528.ece

Diabetics using stem-cell therapy have been able to stop taking
insulin injections for the first time, after their bodies started to
produce the hormone naturally again.

In a breakthrough trial, 15 young patients with newly diagnosed type 1
diabetes were given drugs to suppress their immune systems followed by
transfusions of stem cells drawn from their own blood.

The results show that insulin-dependent diabetics can be freed from
reliance on needles by an injection of their own stem cells. The
therapy could signal a revolution in the treatment of the condition,
which affects more than 300,000 Britons.


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[Ganja Ninja]

1. I heard this story the other day.

It works as long as they catch it early enough. Still it does work and could point the way to cures for a lot of auto immune diseases.

[nomo]

2. Of course there are caveats

But the good news is that stem cell research truly has the potential to yield amazing results.

In other coutries, that is.

[Traveling_Home]

4. Embryonic or Adult?

It makes a differance. No one is fighting the good results from Adult Stem cells. Or were these from Embryonic Stem Cells?

[Sadie4629]

5. "stem cells drawn from their own blood." n/t

[Sadie4629]

6. The same breakthrough could have happened here

No ban on funding for adult stem cell research.

[nomo]

7. True that

But if this is possible with adult stem cells, imagine the potential in researching embryinic stem cells.

Oh well, I guess we'll hear all about it when they discover another breakthrough cure somewhere in Europe or Asia.

[Sadie4629]

8. Serious question--

Have there been any breakthroughs in other countries using embryonic stem-cells?? (I think I saw some data, but it was found that the research was faked--although I may be thinking of a different research project.)

RWers that I've talked to say embryonic stem-cell research has been disappointing (one person I know says they have even caused cancer) and that the real promise is in adult stem-cells, or even cord cells. I'm asking, because I've been in these conversations, and I don't have the answers.

[kestrel91316]

9. You actually BELIEVE anything a RWer says about science?????

"......RWers that I've talked to say embryonic stem-cell research has been disappointing (one person I know says they have even caused cancer)......."

How can you tell a RWer is lying? His/her lips are moving.

You got a link to some actual facts?? Some PUBLISHED, PEER-REVIEWED research?

[Sadie4629]

12. Well--

--it was a RWer who straightened me out about the whole "ban on stem cell research" thing. I thought there really was a ban on stem cell research, and then was informed (with documentation) that the ban is only on funding of embryonic stem cell research. (The way it was put is "if Theresa Heinz Kerry, Ted Kennedy, and Arianna Huffington want to invest their money in embryonic stem-cell research, they can do it.) I was also told that funding of adult stem cell research is allowed. I had to eat some humble pie.

You know, even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Every once in awhile the cons show they know a thing or two.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. While this is good news, it does not apply to the vast majority of diabetics

Including myself, alas.

There are two types of diabetes, known as Type I and Type II. Type I is caused by the body not producing enough insulin. Most Type I diabetics have an auto-immune condition that has destroyed the insulin producing cells in the pancreas; this usually occurs while the person is young, which is why Type I is also known as "juvenile" diabetes. Age related degeneration can also cause Type I diabetes. All together, Type I diabetics make up only about 5% of people with diabetes.

The remaining 95% have Type II, also known as "adult onset" or "insulin resistance" diabetes. This is where the body produces enough insulin (or even too much) but the cells do not use it. Type II diabetes has several different causes, with obesity related issues counting for several of those causes. Medical advances like this one will not help those of us with Type II diabetes.

[wicket]

10. Hopefully with more research they will find a cure for you and others

:hug:

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. Thanks

:hi: