Posted on 06/27/2013 3:28:10 PM PDT by CutePuppy
It may be possible to reverse type 1 diabetes by training a patient's own immune system to stop attacking their body, an early trial suggests.
Their immune system destroys the cells that make insulin, the hormone needed to control blood sugar levels.
A study in 80 patients, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, showed a vaccine could retrain their immune system.
Experts described the results as a "significant step".
Normally a vaccine teaches the immune system to attack bacteria or viruses that cause disease, such as the polio virus.
Researchers at the Stanford University Medical Centre used a vaccine with the opposite effect - to make the immune system cease its assault.
In patients with type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys beta cells in the pancreas. This means the body is unable to produce enough insulin and regular injections of the hormone are needed throughout life.
It is a different disease to type 2 diabetes, which can be caused by an unhealthy diet.
The vaccine was targeted to the specific white blood cells which attack beta cells. After patients were given weekly injections for three months, the levels of those white blood cells fell.
'New concept'
..... < snip > However, other parts of the immune system seemed to be left intact. ..... < snip >
..... "This vaccine is a new concept. It's shutting off a specific immune response."
The research is at an early stage and trials in larger groups of people, which measure the long-term effect of the vaccine, are still needed.
Prof Steinman said the effect seemed to last for up to two months so regular boosters would be needed. ..... < snip >
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Interesting development in using immune system in reverse (shutting down specific immune response) to treat diabetes 1.
“type 2, which is caused by an unhealthy diet”.
Ah yes, there it is. Us Type 2’s “brought it on ourselves”.
Except I know Type 2’s who are otherwise in the peak of health, and were, and remain, athletes. And suddenly, their sugars went crazy. . .
That's what I've been told by several physicians who've treated me.Their statements have been backed up by the fact that once,when I lost a lot of weight and got down to a point close to my "normal" weight my doctors took me off the diabetes med I was on as well as all but one of my blood pressure meds.The internist told me that this was common for overweight folks who succeed in losing a lot of weight.But he didn't say it was *universally* true for Type 2.
Stop eating bread and sugar. Skip the vaccines. Worked for me at any rate. Mmmm, love meat, cheese, and vegetables.
The vaccines are for type one, not type two diabetes. Diet is not a factor in type one.
“type 2, which is caused by an unhealthy diet”.
Folks like those researchers are truly heroes of civilization. But we will probably never hear their names. It's more important to know who won Dancing with the Stars or who won the Heisman trophy.
Not a bad advice in general, but this treatment is meant specifically for Type 1 diabetes, which is not at all diet-related.
Great sentiment, concurred and appreciated.
Thanks for posting.
LOL! My thread got one comment!
You are very welcome.
:-) Well, this development, while very significant, is somewhat self-explanatory and people viewing may have had no comment of significance to leave or decided not to comment.
Besides, there have been many political news of great importance recently, and people may be busy on those threads or just exhausted (from posting or heat, where applicable) - not that I’d blame them.
This development, however, has wide-ranging implications - it may provide the insight and the method of looking at and treating not only diabetes but any number of autoimmune disorders, by turning off immune system response specific only to that condition.
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