Procedure gives hope to Type 1 Diabetes

A three-pronged strategy, to knock out renegade immune cells, replace them and revitalize other cells that make insulin, might reverse type 1 diabetes. This is a new procedure that has mostly been used on mice at this point, but very successfully. Type 1 Diabetes usually strikes at a young age and it means a life time of insulin shots and blood sugar tests. In the new study, researchers used specially designed antibodies in the mice to first wipe out rogue beta-cell-killing T cells from the immune system.Then, the mice received a mismatched bone marrow graft. The mismatch seems to be a vital part of the procedure. This new procedure is still in its infancy stage, and needs to be tested on primates before it can be released to the public. But, this new approach might mean something great for those who suffer from Type 1 Diabetes.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/340575/title/Procedure_offers_hope_in_type_1_diabetes