This just in, thanks to the Facebook group, I F* Love Science: The Scientist is reporting that beagles were cured of type 1 diabetes through a single injection of gene therapy! The therapy involved injecting the dogs with genes for insulin and glucokinase (an enzyme involved in glucose metabolism). Once the genes were incorporated into the dogs' DNA, the dogs were able to regulate their own glucose levels without any medication and they were able to exercise without becoming hypoglcyemic. This is something that researchers were unable to achieve when they injected the dogs with either insulin genes or glucokinase genes alone.
While this is exciting news, because the dogs had diabetes induced chemically rather than through an autoimmune attack, it may not be "the cure" for us humans with type 1 (naturally). Still, in the nearly 20 years I've had diabetes, this is one treatment that I find very encouraging. Read the abstract of the original article HERE.
For those of us with type 1 from auto immune problems the cure will have to start there as any transplants seem to revert over time. It is encourging but just the tip of the ice berg.
I get excited every time i see something like this. It has yet to pan out so I am a little bit skeptical. I remember "smart insulin" and C peptide injections. Large dose vaccines for other diseases, human islet transplants, beef and pork islet transplants. immuno supression. Now it is gene therapy. I hope it works out but I wont hold my breath.
If anyone says " it will be cured in 5 years" the you know it is a scam. I've been hearing that since 1988.
