Regeneration of beta cells
Trials of a drug for restoring insulin-producing cells have begun
Anna Kerman, XX2 century
Clinical trials of a fundamentally new drug for the treatment of type 1 diabetes have begun at the University Hospital of Wales. This remedy, as previously shown, is able to regenerate pancreatic cells responsible for the production of insulin. In patients with type 1 diabetes, these cells die, which leads to the development of the disease.
If the trials are successful, people living with type 1 diabetes will become less dependent on insulin injections. So far, two volunteers have received the drug. It is known that there are no serious side effects of the drug, but it is too early to talk about its effectiveness.
One of the co-researchers, Dr. Mohammad Alhadj Ali, claims that the treatment will give patients "new hope."
"Insulin injections are a heavy burden borne by everyone suffering from type 1 diabetes," explains Dr. Ali. "The new therapy could reduce the amount of insulin needed by patients and give patients the opportunity to better control blood glucose levels."
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a serious chronic disease in which patients have an increased concentration of glucose in the blood, because the body does not produce insulin in the right quantities. This problem can be solved only by restoring the population of insulin-producing cells: in 90% of patients with type 1 diabetes, such cells are no more than 5% of the norm.
Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is not associated with old age or overweight – it is an autoimmune disease. But both types of diabetes can lead to serious complications: cardiovascular diseases, strokes, blindness and impaired kidney function.
Denise Davies, a 56-year-old resident of Wales who is taking part in a study of a new drug, talks about her illness: "It's such a strain. You can't take a break. Illness governs every hour of every day; whether you're driving or going for a walk, everything requires meticulous planning."
For the last 4 years, Davis has been living with an insulin pump, which must be worn constantly.
The recruitment of volunteers to participate in the study of the new drug continues: scientists hope that they will be able to gather up to 8 people with at least two years of experience of the disease. The name of the drug is not disclosed.
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