Type 1 diabetes cure

When has medical science ever cured anything? Vaccines have been effective cures, but everything else is just treatment. I don't expect to see a T1 diabetes cure in my lifetime, but treatment will continue to improve.

 

I think the best that can be hoped for in the near future is tech improvements to make life easier.

 

How do you stop the immune system attacking the body? It's not a trivial issue.

 

Hmmmmmm....Nope. 49 years type 1 now and have heard of so many so called cures are going to be hear in ten years time. As has been said tech will get better and better making T1D easier to live with, as for a cure, it's not going to happen. Will keep on saying it there is no money in a cure

 

There is a member on here @Grant_Vicat who has had a pancreas transplant, pretty sure he will come on and have a say.....

 

I'm still hopeful. My specialist says that the current problem for researchers, for type 1's is that after a pancreas transplant or stem cell treatment the immunosuppressant drugs don't stop the immune system destroying islet cells, and have side-effects.

 

Insulin isn't a 'drug'.

Until the cause(s) of T1D are found there'll be no cure, and even with 'classic' T1d there appears to be more than one cause.

 

Problem is you are then taking multiple immuno suppression drugs including cortico steriods which come with a whole range of problems. So you kind of trade one life long problem for another life long treatment problem.

 

Too much money made from treating type 1 diabetes do cant see a cure in the future

 

Ten years ​

 

Hi @Andydragon and @hooner as predicted by @porl69 I had to respond! In the 1970's I became so cheesed off with futile predictions that I stopped being interested in magazines such as Balance. I also grudgingly accepted that it was for life. So when a transplant surgeon and a specialist suggested I should have a kidney AND a pancreas transplant, "Bring it on!" was the instant reaction. At last a cure, or so I thought. Interestingly, when I first joined this forum, the moment you clicked the Email, the Home page would have a box on the right with amongst other topics Five Reasons why a Pancreas Transplant is not a Cure. I understand why people, including me, think it is. I can get straight out of bed without stabbing my finger and then pondering how to direct my regime. I can get into a car at any time without the worry of having a hypo at some stage. I can eat whatever I like (with the exception of grapefruit and shellfish) whenever I like, even though I still follow a similar carb count and regular timings as I always did. It is more comfortable. I narrowly avoided dialysis by 8 days.
On the down side, as has @Tophat1900 stated above, are the side effects of immuno-suppressants. I take a total of 9 (2 different types) a day, and both cause tremors, particularly in the hands. Being an organist, pianist and artist is certainly not helped by this, but I manage. Ultimately immuno suppressants destroy cells. However my kidney function for 40 years was also destroying cells. I also think hypos took a toll on brain cells - just don't ask my siblings! Also I am still prone to retinopathy, but fortunately I haven't needed treatment since 1983. Since I would be attending dialysis (something I really dreaded) frequently, I feel I have a better quality of life than what I would had I carried on, even as a well controlled Type 1. I would advise taking full advantage of wonderful technology, maintaining as fine a balance as you can (without panicking when it's derailed) and it is possible you could be pleasantly surprised at some stage. Just don't count on it. Good luck!

 

No, not at all just it's an oft misunderstood 'thing' is insulin, we inject it so to a non D it's a drug, their body makes it so they don't inject it so to a non D it's not a drug, it's actually a protein chain or a 'peptide hormone' and the name of course comes from the Latin 'insula' which iIrc means island and it's made (or not as the case may be) in the part of the pancreas called the isles of Langerman (or something similar after the Dr who first discovered them), the pancreas of course being where your stomach acid or some such like is also made.

 

Hi @ert I celebrated 7 years on 14th August with a constant HbA1C of 28 ! I somehow think my islet cells are still okay. But obviously, I have to attend a clinic every 3 months to keep an eye on exactly this type of thing. I think, like in Type 1, improved treatment is always on the horizon. But you are definitely right about side effects! I wish you luck with your hopefulness.

 

Wow hba1c of 28 that’s amazing. your new pancreas (or not so new anymore) is working well