Saturday, April 29, 2006
Is A Diabetes Vaccine Possible?
As this is my blog, I'm going to turn away from politics briefly to post information that brings more joy to my life than any Republican scandal. As many of you reading this know, I am a type 1 diabetic. As such, the information I'm about to post is a source of hope in what often seems a hopeless pursuit--a cure for type 1 diabetes.
As reported by Diabetes Focus magazine, "British researchers are working on a vaccine to prevent type 1 diabetes. If successful, the vaccine would stop the immune systems of people with diabetes from destroying their own insulin-making cells."
For those that don't know, type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile diabetes. It is usually diagnosed before the age of 20 and most of its victims remain insulin dependent for their entire lives. Insulin, by the way, is basic life support. Much as an accident victim requires a feeding tube or respirator machine to live, most type 1 diabetics require insulin to live. Insulin is not a treatment or a cure.
With that said, I eagerly await the latest developments on this front and will continue to post them as they become available.
As reported by Diabetes Focus magazine, "British researchers are working on a vaccine to prevent type 1 diabetes. If successful, the vaccine would stop the immune systems of people with diabetes from destroying their own insulin-making cells."
For those that don't know, type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile diabetes. It is usually diagnosed before the age of 20 and most of its victims remain insulin dependent for their entire lives. Insulin, by the way, is basic life support. Much as an accident victim requires a feeding tube or respirator machine to live, most type 1 diabetics require insulin to live. Insulin is not a treatment or a cure.
With that said, I eagerly await the latest developments on this front and will continue to post them as they become available.
