Diabetes Cure A Step Closer After Scientists Use The Liver To Regulate Blood Sugar

A diabetes cure is a step closer after scientists discovered a way to regulate blood sugar using the liver.

Read the whole story: Daily Telegraph

Comments

[MyAudacity]

01:06 PM on 03/17/2009

Do they need a human test subject. I volunteer! I hate Diabetes and want it to begone!

[poster1122]

04:15 PM on 03/17/2009

You might want to hold off for a few years. The way the cure works is to rewrite the DNA of some liver cells to become insulin producers. The way that's done is to genetically alter a virus (that's what viruses do: implant its DNA into your cells). The problem is that the virus, even altered, could in itself be deadly. No point in having a cure if it results in death, no? :-)

But the research is promising. We just need to figure out a safe transport mechanism for the "code" change to human cells.

[DrCharlesMartin]

12:06 PM on 03/17/2009

This is promising research that could yield a great breakthrough in diabetes care and treatment. I'm excited about all the research to help find a cure for diabetes. I've written about several other research efforts that are taking place in Japan and at Harvard. You can read about them on my blog at www.dentistryfordiabetics.com/blog.

Charles Martin, DDS
Founder, Dentistry for Diabetics

[vesaversa1]

11:53 AM on 03/17/2009

Being one of those hundreds of thousands of Americans who suffer from diabetes this is great great news .

[Steamboater]

12:14 PM on 03/17/2009

I wish they'd find a cure for Type 2 Diabetes. Everytime you hear of stem cell research about diabetes it's always about Type 1. Aren't they also using stem cells for a Type 2 cure?

[quantumspin]

10:12 AM on 03/17/2009

Potentially very good news.

The question I have is: if this proves out, will the procedure be available to all diabetics, or just those who can afford to write the check? I know, I'm answering my own question probably, but thought I'd made the point.

Let's hope this is indeed a way to relieve diabetic symptoms, and that every single diabetic will get the benefit---not just the bankers and TV hosts.

[vesaversa1]

11:54 AM on 03/17/2009

amen

[Formulaplot3]

10:03 AM on 03/17/2009

Dr. Denise Faustman of the Mass Gen Hospital has a unique human clinical trial underway (18 months) which has cured the type I diabetes in mice. Her sole funding came from Lee Iaccocca's foundation.

Her cure could not get funding for years because it is a simple injection of a common bacillus used to treat Tubercullosis for the last 80 years.

Of course our legislators in Congress couldn't find a single pork project to reject but somehow failed to fund this promising research.

[Formulaplot3]

09:59 AM on 03/17/2009

The pharma diabetes industry is making monumental amounts of money from the growing horde of diabetes sufferers. And this group is growing because something in the diet , perhaps "High Fructose Corn Syrup" additives are triggering this autoimmune disease.

Till then we are being taken for a monetary fleecing -

$1.00 per test strip = 3-5 times a day or $100 / bottle.
$60-$90 per insulin bottle x 3
$10 - Box of alcohol swabs
$50 - Box of needles

Where is the U.S - Genomic Research
Where are the NIH dollars going???
Where is the Diabetes Assoc Investment???

NOT IN CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH!!!
28 Years of Suffering and still waiting.

[MyAudacity]

01:15 PM on 03/17/2009

True dat, and then the Doctor's prescribe multiple rx's

Metformin
Glipizide
Januvia, etc

taken multiple times a day, and this is just for Diabetes II,

when it gets out of whack, then you are on a sliding scale of Humunlin -R insulin shots

None of this is inexpensive, and without insurance I would have probably have stroked out

[Joseph Akintola]

09:37 AM on 03/17/2009

Does all this talk about stem cell have any impact or hope for diabetes sufferers? I really want to know.

Joseph Akintola
www.diabetesissues.synthasite.com

[PlaceboStudman]

12:36 PM on 03/17/2009

To be honest and blunt, it is too early to tell whether stem cell research will be of any good to anyone, but if no one does the research to find out, we will never know

[randeg]

07:57 AM on 03/17/2009

Cells in liver converted into insulin-producing cells? This could be a great breakthrough which could only lead to a diabetes cure. It must be so because the mice the researchers worked on had their blood glucose level return to normal in a week's time. And the best news is that they stayed normal throughout their life.

Evelyn Guzman
http://www.free-symptoms-of-diabetes-alert.com (If you want to visit, just click but if it doesn’t work, copy and paste it onto your browser.)

[sassafra]

07:27 AM on 03/17/2009

this is wonderful news. somehow though, i suspect that big pharma and the gop will find a way to supress a cure in order to protect their maintainence drug profits on products such as insulin.

[mountainweb]

08:00 AM on 03/17/2009

You mean the democratic party will find a way to supress a cure, remember who is in control and has been quite successful at selling themselves out to big business....

[sassafra]

10:13 AM on 03/17/2009

i meant exactly what i said. it's no secret who big pharma, bush, and the gop hosed during the last administration with their drug legislation, which heavily favors business at the u.s. consumers expense.

[ChristopherRobin]

06:17 AM on 03/17/2009

25 years since my husband was diagnosed. 25 years of promises like this. Do they even read their own stuff? "One obstacle is that in order for the gene called neurogenin3 to bond with a cell it needs to be transported by a virus which could be deadly to humans." So -- to sum up -- 1) it works in mice which only means it MIGHT work in humans someday and 2) right now they have to use a potentially deadly virus to even get it to work. Good luck working that one out.

We've read a thousand of these articles over the years and they have as much credibility as "flying cars to be on streets tomorrow". Despite the best efforts by scientists we are light years away from a cure. With embryonic stem cells back on the table after 8 years in limbo maybe we're 15 to 20 years away from a cure instead of 50 but that's about it.

Meanwhile, the pharamceutical industry ignores promising treatments that could reduce the scourge of complications that plague diabetics while we wait for a cure because they are not big ticket items for them.

I know a nice "cure around the corner" headline is juicy and fun to write but it is cruel to say the least to those who suffer and die in the meantime.

[elaineee]

03:51 AM on 03/17/2009

That's so neat-- but I'm always hesitant to completely believe in these kinds of articles or discoveries. They may be on the right track but it could be years and years before they figure out how to overcome that "obstacle" of cell bonding.

Here's to hoping they'll figure this out soon!

[ProudMormon]

03:02 AM on 03/17/2009

Larry is a nice guy and he runs a good lab. Congratulations to him and his lab on this great publication.

[joebloe]

02:03 AM on 03/17/2009

See what happens when science isn't ruled by the illogic of religion. I would think the pro-lifers should be ecstatic about promoting life.

Here's hoping they can find a way to make this happen for people and make this horrible affliction a distant memory.

[trimom]

01:42 AM on 03/17/2009

I have read that people that get gastrobypass (sp?) surgery tend to end up with significantly lower blood sugar. The results are independent of weight loss. Has anyone heard of this?

[OutsourcedAgain]

02:29 AM on 03/17/2009

Yes it was reported on by 60 Minutes.

[Sarahlein]

05:53 AM on 03/17/2009

I know two people who have had the surgery and their blood sugar has changed dramatically--but not in a good way. Unfortunately now it drop too low quickly and both have suffered seizures because of it.

[defdes]

01:12 AM on 03/17/2009

I have been diabetic since 15, I'm now 43 so 28 years. When I contracted the disease, my doctor (head of endocrinology at NYU Medical Center) said 10 years for a cure. ..still waiting. I have zero faith in medical companies "dedicated to the cure of diabetes..." at this point as they have proven time and again to be greedy sob's. It is considered a "manageable" disease, and they make a FORTUNE off of us. I'd be surprised now if it happened in my lifetime, though I am hopeful reading of studies like this.

[LHoney]

07:05 AM on 03/17/2009

I absolutely agree! I have had type 1 since 1962 and am doing remarkably well all things considered. I also believe that the money making machine will not allow a cure to see the light of day. Hoping I'm wrong, but have seen dozens of these types of "breakthroughs" over the years to no avail...

[JanetMK]

09:44 AM on 03/17/2009

I hear you, I have had Type 1 since 1968. I have been hearing about a cure for 41 years now. I would love to see one. The ways to treat diabetes have dramatically improved from when I first came down with it. Remember the old urine tests? I was almost given insulin when I was going in an insulin reaction because I had sugar in my urine. I am thank ful for the changes, especially the insulin pumps and sensors. A cure ( while I am still young enough to get one) would be fantastic.

[Joel Berger]

08:51 AM on 03/17/2009

I agree as well. Big pharma makes a bundle of bucks on glucose meter supplies. Why give up the cash cow?

That being said . . . I do love how my insulin pump helps my control.