There are three separate studies now, in China, USA and Brazil, that have successfully treated type 1 diabetes with stem cell transplantation.
While this is a breakthrough news, expectations are that most currently diagnosed would not see themselves actually treated during their lifetime.
As one US commenter about this news puts it: No amount of letter-writing to the White House is going to produce a cure-big pharmaceuticals are making billions and trillions off of us, as are hospitals and doctors, shoe companies, sock companies, durable medical equipment supply companies, pharmacies, sugar-substitute companies, etc. etc. etc. And PLEASE don't get me started on Medtronic Minimed Corp, who boasted $15.9 B-B-B-BILLION dollars in revenue for 2011, whilst they were scraping moths out of my wallet the whole time. Can we actually think that anyone would be stupid enough to create a cure? I'm pretty sure everyone's aware of the disease, but they're making way too much to stop now. After all, what would JDRF do if a cure was indeed found? Who would donate millions to them then???
However, there is a new player in town. This, apparently is one of the research labs that successfully conducted stem cell treatments. They offer treatment packages for newly diagnosed for the mere price of $30k to $50k. With tears to my eyes I read the part about treatment being generally successful for newly diagnosed, therefore likely excluding my 6,5-year old diagnosis.
Still, apart from money, success rate and diagnosis age, this is of utmost importance to the diabetes community.
Following is an extract from the site’s FAQ page:
How does stem cell therapy work?The biological function of stem cells is to repair and regenerate damaged cells. Stem cell therapy exploits this function by administering these cells systematically and in high concentrations directly into the damaged tissue, where they advance its self-healing. The process that lies behind this mechanism is largely unknown, but it is assumed that stem cells discharge certain substances which activate the diseased tissue. It is also conceivable that single damaged somatic cells, e.g. single neurocytes in the spinal cord or endothelium cells in vessels, are replaced by stem cells. Most scientists agree that stem cell research has great life-saving potential and could revolutionize the study and treatment of diseases and injuries.