Posted on 08/26/2008 2:28:48 PM PDT by fightinJAG
ScienceDaily (Aug. 26, 2008) — Terminally ill rodents with type 1 diabetes have been restored to full health with a single injection of a substance other than insulin by scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Since the discovery of insulin in 1922, type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes) in humans has been treated by injecting insulin to lower high blood sugar levels and prevent diabetic coma.
New findings by UT Southwestern researchers, which appear online and in a future issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that insulin isn't the only agent that is effective. Leptin, a hormone produced by the body's fat cells, also lowers blood glucose levels and maintains them in a normal range for extended periods, they found.
"The fact that these animals don't die and are restored to normal health despite a total lack of insulin is hard for many researchers and clinicians to believe," said Dr. Roger Unger, professor of internal medicine and senior author of the study. "Many scientists, including us, thought it would be a waste of time to give leptin in the absence of insulin.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
howdy!
bump
“Weight-reduction bypass surgery can send diabetes into remission...” at least for some Type II cases - google it.
Does leptin require refrigeration?............
Just another WOW story that will go nowhere but down the deep well of never never land and never be heard of again.
A combo would be phenomenal. I hope that in 5 years they’ll have osmosis spheres of insulin producing cells. Just bring it!
How do they know whether the rodents are dying of diabetes, or just dying? Our gerbils just ... die, after 2-1/2 to 3 years.
I know there seems to be a lot of “WOW stories” lately, with hopes dashed, but they sure are working on this. I feel like we are just around the corner from a cure for this (praying).
What’s new?
Democrats love all kinds of drugs, especially those that will give them extra kick.
you got that right!
Yes but this is for type 1 which has nothing to do with being overwieght and usually strikes children through those before the age of 35.
WOW is right! With all of the new advances I am very hopeful that within my lifetime we just might see a cure. I know I’d love not having to structuure my whole life around this like I have since I was 9 years old.
“Just another WOW story that will go nowhere but down the deep well of never never land and never be heard of again.”
So young and so cynical?
There are ways to raise leptin naturally through diet, exercise, and supplements.
And there is obesity research going on to manipulate leptin levels as well. This may be quite promising for the future.
Just to add: stomach stapling doesn’t have this effect, only the bypass where the first 1 foot of the small intestine is by-passed has this effect.
The problem is that mouse studies are not really good predictors of results in human trials. To give an example, if you’re mouse with cancer there are plenty of cures for you. Humans not so much. Some skepticism is warranted here.
My first thought too.
Some researchers would like to classify this condition as an entirely different sort of "disease", like a Type I and a half maybe.
you and me both friend.
I do not see a cure happening anytime soon. With the Drug Corps getting darn near a dollar per test strip, why kill a hot revenue stream?
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