Sunday, January 24, 2010

Fun Day & Rumors of a Possible Cure!

Today we went the "Hot Shots" (diabetic support group) ice skating party. It was well attended, and lots of fun! Even Will, who usually resists any kind of skating, had a good time.

While there, I talked with a mom who is enrolled in a study considering whether some type 1 diabetes can be cured with the TB vaccine. I looked it up online when I got home. A doctor has found a way to target the T cells that destroy the insulin & has reversed the disease even after full onset in mice, horses, and another animal (I forgot. Was it dogs?). It was only successful for a third of the patients. Right now the trial for people just involved them donating blood. When it comes time to try the vaccine, they expect a severe case of pancreatitis while the pancreas swells & fights the T cells that destroy insulin. She said that they would probably end up hospitalized for a couple weeks. Once the T cells are destroyed, type 1 diabetes is gone. How cool would that be???

It's interesting that yesterday Andrew was discussing what he would consider a cure. Fancy pumps coupled with even more sensors that he has to wear all the time is not a cure. Improvement over current management, but so not a cure. Neither are surgeries & immuniosuppressant drugs that only last a little over a year. He wanted a shot cure. I admit I thought it naive, but I would love to be wrong!!!
http://www2.massgeneral.org/diabetes/laboratory_type1.htm

1 comment:

  1. A cure would be wonderful. But I must say that experimental treatment sounds a bit scary

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