Any Type-1 (insulin dependant) diabetics out there?

[Bob_Bytchin]

I find this report to be very good news. It seems that medicine is on the verge of ending a diabetic's need for insulin shots through the use of stem cells. Even more reason to continue stem cell research.

** I wonder how many members of Congress, that oppose stem cell research, have diabetes or have kids/relatives with diabetes? Think this would change their stance on stem cell research?

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20021012/sc_nm/health_diabetes_dc_1

 

[pipercatt]

This article kind of pisses me off a little bit, but not like you'd think.

An old friend of mine was a research scientist, and several years ago, discovered that the islet cells of pigs transplanted into patients with juvenile diabetes often made a full recovery. As I remember it, he received many awards for this ground breaking technique, and was I was told he had come up with the cure for the disease.

I fell out of touch with that person and his family, but I was always on the lookout for news on this medical breakthough, and when it would be put to practical use. And I never really heard anything. It's been almost 10 years.

It makes me wonder if the pharmaceutical company he worked for supressed my friend's findings, in order to keep their insulin production line in business, or if something happened during his research that made his findings unusable.

Either way, it's sad. I don't have type 1, but I do have type 2.

 

[Star of Penumbra]

My dog has type one.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

This article kind of pisses me off a little bit, but not like you'd think.

An old friend of mine was a research scientist, and several years ago, discovered that the islet cells of pigs transplanted into patients with juvenile diabetes often made a full recovery. As I remember it, he received many awards for this ground breaking technique, and was I was told he had come up with the cure for the disease.

I heard about this a few years ago. They found a way to produce pig cells that produced very little rejection, and the results were just as you said. Many kids fully recovered from diabetes, but still had to get daily shots to prevent rejection. But I think that would be a much better trade-off.

** I have a friend who has total kidney failure, he goes to dialysis 4 days a week, for 10 hours a day. I would really like to see stem cell research go forward because this guy is one of the "good" guys that deserves much better than to die this way.

 

[Ishmael]

Many kids fully recovered from diabetes, but still had to get daily shots to prevent rejection. But I think that would be a much better trade-off.

Although it may sound like a good trade off, it really isn't. Anti-rejection shots suppress the immune system. It makes mild diseases like colds into life threatening events in some cases. Suseptibility to infection is increased as is the onset of secondary infections.

There have been many instances of what seemed like great break-throughs that have not withstood the test of time.

As far as the drug company surpressing this. Not likely. Insulin is made by many manufacturers and is competitively priced. Rejection suppresants are more specialized and are therefore more profitable. There was probably more incentive for your friend's company to follow through than to suppress.

There is still a somewhat valid point here though. There are many "orphan" drugs out there. Drugs that have proven themselves, in the laboratory at least, to be useful in treating many rare conditions. And that is the problem. The conditions are so rare that the company cannot justify the FDA approval process in order to make them available. There would be no way for them to recover the cost of the research and testing. SO they sit on the shelf.

Ishmael

 

[pipercatt]

The conditions are so rare that the company cannot justify the FDA approval process in order to make them available. There would be no way for them to recover the cost of the research and testing. SO they sit on the shelf.

And that is a very sad thought, indeed.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

Although it may sound like a good trade off, it really isn't. Anti-rejection shots suppress the immune system. It makes mild diseases like colds into life threatening events in some cases. Suseptibility to infection is increased as is the onset of secondary infections.

There have been many instances of what seemed like great break-throughs that have not withstood the test of time.

As far as the drug company surpressing this. Not likely. Insulin is made by many manufacturers and is competitively priced. Rejection suppresants are more specialized and are therefore more profitable. There was probably more incentive for your friend's company to follow through than to suppress.

There is still a somewhat valid point here though. There are many "orphan" drugs out there. Drugs that have proven themselves, in the laboratory at least, to be useful in treating many rare conditions. And that is the problem. The conditions are so rare that the company cannot justify the FDA approval process in order to make them available. There would be no way for them to recover the cost of the research and testing. SO they sit on the shelf.

Ishmael

Thanks Ishmael, it seems that any great breakthrough has its good and bad points. True that immuno-suppressants do create a lot of problems medically. And immuno-suppressants do cost more at this point.

But there's always work towards cheaper drugs that don't suppress the wrong parts of the immune system. Just as there is always work towards animal organs with less effect on the rejection part of the immune system.

But what will it take for more people to join on the stem cell research bandwagon? Sure, there will always be people who reject on behalf of religious beliefs. But do you think that even those people would change their minds when they are directly affected by something that can be cured through stem cell research? Do you think they would accept a cure that was developed through stem cell research?

 

[Ishmael]

But what will it take for more people to join on the stem cell research bandwagon? Sure, there will always be people who reject on behalf of religious beliefs. But do you think that even those people would change their minds when they are directly affected by something that can be cured through stem cell research? Do you think they would accept a cure that was developed through stem cell research?

Well Bob, to my knowledge teh stem cell issue isn't about stem cell research. It's about the source of the stem cells. Specifically, fetal stem cells. It is religious and political. But it is also scientific with many learned researchers arguing, and showing, that fetal tissue is not required.

The arguments are heated at times. I support the research myself. Even with fetal tissue until it's absolutely proven that it is not required. However, a significant increase in the requirement for fetal tissue has the potential to start having companies paying for abortions so that they will have adequate research material. And that sets up the possibility of some women deciding to become "tissue factories", just as some became welfare mothers. Now, that does take the argument into the ethical and political arena.

Nothing's as simple as it seems.

Ishmael

 

[christophe]

any news regarding a cure for diabetes is welcome in my book....the effects of this disease can run a devastating course in any person whether they are well controlled or not.

the list of body systems alone that are affected by type 1 diabetes include: vascular, kidneys, vision, periperal nervous system and cardiac just a name a few. many people can develop insulin resistance which in essence would require them to take larger amounts of insulin, to achieve the same result.

having seen many people suffer these complications, many at a young age, it makes me happy to see that there may be some light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

Well Bob, to my knowledge teh stem cell issue isn't about stem cell research. It's about the source of the stem cells. Specifically, fetal stem cells. It is religious and political. But it is also scientific with many learned researchers arguing, and showing, that fetal tissue is not required.

The arguments are heated at times. I support the research myself. Even with fetal tissue until it's absolutely proven that it is not required. However, a significant increase in the requirement for fetal tissue has the potential to start having companies paying for abortions so that they will have adequate research material. And that sets up the possibility of some women deciding to become "tissue factories", just as some became welfare mothers. Now, that does take the argument into the ethical and political arena.

Nothing's as simple as it seems.

Ishmael

I agree with you. Stem cell research does have the potential to turn into a system of medically funded abortions. But I truly wouldn't see it heading that way. Human eggs can be cultured in labs...and we all know there's plenty of sperm to go around.

Abortion wouldn't even have to come into play. If eggs were cultured in labs, and fertilized with donated sperm, would this truly be against ethics?

I'm with you on this one...I'm all for stem cell research. I have no moral or ethical objections to lab created embryo's. Yes, there is a HUGE can of worms here, but then I look at the masses of people who can benefit from this research, and the people I know personally who could benefit, and I think it's worth going down that road.

Science is already on the verge of being able to create full organs from DNA...but they need stem cell research in order to make the quantum leap. I say we let them do the research.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

any news regarding a cure for diabetes is welcome in my book....the effects of this disease can run a devastating course in any person whether they are well controlled or not.

the list of body systems alone that are affected by type 1 diabetes include: vascular, kidneys, vision, periperal nervous system and cardiac just a name a few. many people can develop insulin resistance which in essence would require them to take larger amounts of insulin, to achieve the same result.

having seen many people suffer these complications, many at a young age, it makes me happy to see that there may be some light at the end of the tunnel!

Exactly!!!

I can't imagine what it must be like to see the light at the end of that tunnel, and feel like it's getting further away.

 

[christophe]

Dont give up hope....I cant imagine what life would be like for millions of people diagnosed and undiagnosed, when a cure is found! But i think many people here will live to see it!

 

[*bratcat*]

Listen carefully as I researched this..

 

[Saint Peter]

The need for more funding of type I diabetes research is very important. Answers to questions like why do type I diabetics have such large genitals? Why are type I diabetics so good looking? Why do type I diabetics score some many game winning goals in hockey?

Support the research. Find the cure.

 

[70/30]

All I have to say is: protect your kidneys. The people in hemodialysis centers are a somber crowd.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

All I have to say is: protect your kidneys.

And don't let women in Tijuana/Juarez/Nuevo Laredo buy you drinks. LOL