Diabetes Cure
A cure for diabetes is proving elusive
Cures for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have proved elusive to medical science. Although people with type 2 diabetes can go into remission, at this stage there is no widely available, complication-free cure for type 1 diabetes.
However, the root causes and mechanism behind both forms of the disease are becoming more clearly understood all the time.
- Read more on the theory of how to reverse type 2 diabetes via lifestyle interventions.
Type 1 diabetes cure
By correcting bodily resistance to insulin, cures for both types of the disease are theoretically possible, but neither have been realised in a widespread sense. Any attempts towards a cure have, at this stage, been beset with complications and have resulted in only temporary or incomplete cures at best.
Several potential cures for type 1 have been created, but in every case these solutions have only been temporary or partially been effective. These include pancreas transplants, and in some cases diabetic patients have become insulin independent for a temporary period of time.
In most cases, however, the need remains for all patients to take immunosuppressive drugs and a return to insulin is inevitable over time. Research into a diabetes cure is ongoing, however, and some of the finest medical minds in the world consider this their primary goal.
Type 2 diabetes remission and surgery
Clinical resolution or remission of type 2 diabetes is a rare but identified medical phenomenon.
Type 2 diabetes may go into remission either through dietary and fitness measures, or in some cases through gastric bypass surgery.
However, this isn’t the case for all type 2 diabetes patients and needs further research before clear conclusions can be drawn. Remissions may not be considered a cure, however, but it may mean type 2 diabetes patients can stop taking medication.
Transplanting for a diabetes cure
Transplanting exogenous beta cells is another form of potential cure that has been attempted, both amongst mice and humans. However, similar to transplant procedures, this has provoked a strong reaction from the immune system, which attacks the transplanted tissue.
Other cell transplant procedures have been attempted, including stem cell research for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In most cases, the same mechanism that destroys beta cells in the first instance attacks stem cells.
Nanotechnology
Another possible cure may one day come from the microscopic, nanotechnological spectrum. In this instance, tiny insulin implants could meter out insulin to blood glucose levels as and when it is required. This type of cure is theoretically possible, and several scientists are working towards this future. However, as with other forms of potential diabetes cure, this remains only a distant potential.
Medical science and progress towards a cure
Discoveries that may one day contribute to a diabetes cure do occur often, however. Be it better understanding of the immune system or discoveries in the natural world, advancement towards a diabetes cure may one day be possible. However, at this stage a diabetes cure remains impossible.
Please check the Diabetes.co.uk News Archive for updates on potential diabetes cures and news of research on similar areas.
