Adult Stem Cell Therapy May Allow Some Type 1 Diabetics To Be Insulin-Free

April 15, 2009 6:39 a.m. EST

David Goodhue - AHN Reporter

Chicago, IL (AHN) - Patients with type 1 diabetes could become insulin-free for years with an experimental adult stem cell therapy, according to researchers at Northwestern University and Brazil's Departments of Clinical Medicine.

The stem cells came from the participants' own bone marrow.

Twenty out of 23 patients with type 1 diabetes taking part in the study were able to be free of insulin for an extended time. The average person went 31 months, and one lasted four years without treatment. Eight of the 20 returned to an insulin regimen, but at lower levels than before receiving the adult stem cell therapy.

The treatment did not take for three of the participants, leading the researchers to conclude that it would not work in people diagnosed with diabetes for more than three months, the BBC reported.

The treatment would also not likely be effective in people with type2 diabetes because their bodies still produce insulin, according to the BBC.

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http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7014792091

Wouldn't that be GREAT!

My mother was a type 1 diabetic.

She had hope when they developed the pills but alas it wasn't to be. Her Dr. said he could give her the pills but she'd still have to take the shots just not as much insulin. She figured if she had to take the shots anyway she might as well do it all in the shots.

They've developed a lot of things since her death that would have made her life easier.

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