The future of diabetes treatment and prevention

In many medical fields, the future looks bright. For diabetes, this is no different. Many possibilities exist. Here's a breakdown of what the future looks like for diabetes prevention and research:

Yes, there are.

• There may be no reason to get rid of the entire pancreas — which produces digestive enzymes and hormones besides insulin — if it's only the beleaguered beta cells (they're responsible for making insulin) that are in trouble.
• That's the idea behind islet cell transplants, in which doctors replace clumps, or islets, of cells — including beta cells — that are clustered throughout the pancreas.
• The procedure was pioneered in animals as far back as the 1970's and has since been made possible in people. In fact, hundreds of people have received islet cell transplants around the world. Unfortunately, long-term success rates have been dismal, with the procedure working only about eight percent of the time.
• One reason success rates have been so low is that immunosuppressant drugs, such as steroids, appear to be toxic to beta cells — which is why pancreas transplants are so rare and difficult.
• That's where islet cell transplantation comes in. This technique uses a combination of steroid-free drugs that appear to prevent rejection of transplanted islet cells and also halt immune-system attacks that cause type 1 diabetes in the first place.
• While early results were electrifying, with some type 1 patients able to stop using insulin for up to 14 months, islet cell transplants are still far from perfected. Some of the transplants fail over time, and the long-term side effects of the new immunosuppressant drugs are not well understood.

Certainly, researchers are working overtime to find a cure and better treatments for type 2 diabetes — especially since the number of people with the disease is increasing exponentially around the globe.

• Right now, researchers are focusing their efforts on treatments that sustain sugar control, assist with weight loss, boost insulin action, reduce the chances of blood sugar that falls too low (hypoglycemia) and lessen risks for heart disease.
• Some of the most interesting research projects are drugs that target metabolic syndrome. Theoretically, if people at risk for developing diabetes could be treated early, it could prevent the development of the disease.
• Currently, scores of drugs are being tested in labs all over the world, and it wouldn't be too far-fetched to expect that some will be approved as treatments in the not-too-distant future. But still, a cure may prove elusive.

Perhaps one day, stem cells could be the cure for diabetes — but that day is still a long way off.

• In theory, stem cells could be cultivated and manipulated so that they eventually develop into the insulin-producing islet cells of the pancreas. Researchers working with mice have been producing hopeful results.
• Researchers from Spain, Germany, Israel and the United States are inching closer to results in their respective countries. However, many questions must be answered.
• First, there are concerns that, once transplanted into the body, stem cells could induce tumour formation.
• Second, scientists must develop a renewable source of human stem cells.

Whether science discovers a cure for diabetes involving stem cells or simply finds a better way to treat the condition, the future is full of possibilities. Keep researching the developments and talk to your doctor about different possibilities -- you might find something perfect for you!