First — SEE you don’t need Embroyic Stem Cells.
Second — of course, it probably won’t help me or most Type 2’s. But it will be really great if it will eliminate Type 1s!
Thirteen young diabetics in Brazil have ditched their insulin shots and need no other medication thanks to a risky, but promising treatment with their own stem cells — apparently the first time such a feat has been accomplished.
Source: Stem cell experiment lets diabetics forgo insulin – Diabetes – MSNBC.com
While this news is exciting, less we get too excited, it was a small trial (15 patients) who were recently diagnosed (therefore they were still in what’s known as the honeymoon period, with residual beta cell function). But the relevance to patients who already have T1DM is still unclear. The widespread conclusion is that unless there is some remaining beta cell function, use of their own stem cells may not help existing patients with T1DM. Some researchers believe that by culturing beta cells in vitro (using embryonic stem cells) that this issue could be addressed, but its definitely too early to conclude that embryonic stem cells aren’t needed.
While this news is exciting, less we get too excited, it was a small trial (15 patients) who were recently diagnosed (therefore they were still in what’s known as the honeymoon period, with residual beta cell function). But the relevance to patients who already have T1DM is still unclear. The widespread conclusion is that unless there is some remaining beta cell function, use of their own stem cells may not help existing patients with T1DM. Some researchers believe that by culturing beta cells in vitro (using embryonic stem cells) that this issue could be addressed, but its definitely too early to conclude that embryonic stem cells aren’t needed.
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