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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BigRedSwitch" data-source="post: 780485" data-attributes="member: 86237">I quite literally read everything I can about diabetes. Not for hope, but for education, as that's what I believe in. I have a strong understanding of biology and a 'background' (as such) in medicine, so I understand what I read too.You're absolutely right about gene therapies. The problem is, in both the conditions you mention, there are still cells that remain. That's not the case in type 1 diabetes. In order to cure that with gene therapy, you'd also need to find a cell which was 'similar' to an islet, which could be modified in it's action. The risk then is that gene therapies are 'binary' - if you convert a set of cells from one form to another, they ALL turn.As I said in the post you replied to, I'm practically certain diabetes could be cured NOW if it was cost effective. Stem cells are still the big hope - they are 'cell blueprints' that can be programmed to become any cell. But therein lies the problem - you either need the stem cells from your own placenta, or you need them from your bone marrow.My abdominoplasty cost me £6000, and that was essentially removal of skin and scar tissue. I don't know, but I'd imagine that removal of bone marrow (which is a lot more involved) would cost > double that amount. Then the stem cells need to be removed, and modified to become islets. They then need to be transplanted into the patient, in a location which would allow them to work properly, which is another operation. I'd estimate that if the process was in place, it'd cost circa £100,000 to cure someone of type 1 diabetes. Maybe more. It'd also take weeks of work and an army of medical staff. It's cheaper (and MUCH easier) to just treat them with insulin - if nothing else for cash-flow reasons.I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. As I stated earlier, I'm not pessimistic - I don't really care about being diabetic, to be honest with you - has very little bearing on my life other than the sorrow attached to the fact my son has it (which is very much an 'internal blame' thing). I'm actually a realist, plain and simple.Put it this way - if they do ever create a simple solution to cure type 1 diabetes (and I mean cure, not treat) in our lifetime, get in touch, and every beer you ever drink for the rest of your life will be on me. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />I'd say I'd join you, but I don't drink. Although I'll have a diet coke. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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