Stem cells reverse woman’s diabetes — a world first
A 25-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes started producing her own insulin less than three months after receiving a transplant of reprogrammed stem cells1. She is the first person with the disease to be treated using cells that were extracted from her own body.
“I can eat sugar now,” said the woman, who lives in Tianjing, on a call with Nature. It has been more than a year since the transplant, and, she says, “I enjoy eating everything — especially hotpot.” The woman asked to remain anonymous to protect her privacy.
James Shapiro, a transplant surgeon and researcher at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, says the results of the surgery are stunning. “They’ve completely reversed diabetes in the patient, who was requiring substantial amounts of insulin beforehand.”
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This is cool but I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed at the slow pace of research in this field. The cause of type 1 diabetes is well understood and we knew this treatment was possible for decades but it still took until now to finally make it happen. Gene therapy has the possibility of curing almost any disease, at least in theory, but the amount of time even simple treatments like this have taken to develop makes me feel we won’t live to see such advances.
What's that? A cure? I don't know what you're talking about *raises insulin prices another 1000%*
The cause is well understood? What is the cause?
Genetic disposition for the body to produce antibodies that attack and kill insulin producing beta cells. There are 2 types, GAD and TSH antibodies. They are normally present at birth, but sometimes get triggered later in life by a cold/flu. There are a few mysteries in the exact mechanics, but I agree, overall, it is pretty well understood.