Diabetes Breakthrough Announced by Harvard Stem Cell Researchers

Researchers at Harvard University announce a major diabetes breakthrough in finding a treatment and possible cure for type 1 diabetes from human embryonic stem cells.

The scientists were able to produce insulin-producing beta cells from stem cells in very large volumes that would be required for cell transplantation as well as pharmaceutical use. Lead researcher Doug Melton said they have the ability to create hundreds of millions of beta cells. He hopes to transplant them into humans within the next few years, therefore making this diabetes breakthrough a reality.

30 million people in the USA are believed to have diabetes according to CDC stats. That’s a staggering 9.3 % of the entire counties population. Diabetic patients must rely on daily insulin shots to keep their blood sugars stable. This includes monitoring glucose levels as well as having a strict diet with carb counting and activity levels. If the team can successfully transplant the beta cells into humans, it would mean the elimination for daily monitoring. And the cells would be doing the job of normal insulin-producing beta cells inside a pancreas.

There are very positive signs because the transplanted beta cells have worked on mice and quickly stabilized their insulin levels. Primates will be next to test this cell transplantation. After primate testing, then human testing will hopefully be the final test before commercialization and ready for the public.

Doug Melton with Peng Yi and his team are currently looking into encapsulating the cells inside of a protective shell in order to ensure their safety. This will prevent the immune system from attacking and destroying the beta cells

Let’s hope and pray this exciting diabetes breakthrough will free the millions of sufferers like you and me from a lifetime of  daily monitoring, testing and insulin injections.

source: Washington Post

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