Type 1 Diabetes Reversed With Stem Cells From Cord Blood
This study has me really excited. It is a study involving the re-education of immune cells by introducing cord blood stem cells to a sample of the patient's blood. This is done outside of the patient's body and the "smart" blood is returned. The goal is for the immune system to stop attacking the beta cells and for the patient to begin making some insulin.
The study compared patients who make no insulin, patients who were still making some insulin and a third placebo group that did not receive the cord blood stem cells.
The results were that the patients who received the treatment had a decrease in A1c and insulin requirements and an increased C-peptide. Thats both groups, the patients with some or no beta cell function to begin and those with some beta cell function.
The placebo group showed no change in any of these measurements.
This is really nice. The C-peptide is the exciting part. Insulin and A1c can be manipulated with more aggressive diet and exercise, but not the C-peptide. That shows an intrinsic change. It shows that this works.
Its also interesting to me because the group with no beta cell function was brought to about the same C-peptide value that I currently have which is about 0.5. This is much lower than I was at about a year post transplant. I was usually over 1.0. But, physically it is a giant step away from 0 C-peptide which is where I was pre-transplant. I still feel just as good, I just have to take a few shots. I must be healthier.
I'll be following this study closely. They are hoping to start clinical trials on this soon in Japan.
As for me, I had good news at my endo appt. last week. My A1c is down to 5.8. This is fantastic. My previous one was 6.5. I was hoping to just be lower than that, so this is a pleasant surprise. As I mentioned above, its probably due to my very aggressive diet, exercise and insulin use, but thats ok. High BGs are toxic to my precious islets, so I try to avoid them. I'm really hoping to stay where I am for as long as I can. Or until the next best thing comes along like this study.
We just got back from a trip to California for a belated White Christmas. We had a great time.
This study has me really excited. It is a study involving the re-education of immune cells by introducing cord blood stem cells to a sample of the patient's blood. This is done outside of the patient's body and the "smart" blood is returned. The goal is for the immune system to stop attacking the beta cells and for the patient to begin making some insulin.
The study compared patients who make no insulin, patients who were still making some insulin and a third placebo group that did not receive the cord blood stem cells.
The results were that the patients who received the treatment had a decrease in A1c and insulin requirements and an increased C-peptide. Thats both groups, the patients with some or no beta cell function to begin and those with some beta cell function.
The placebo group showed no change in any of these measurements.
This is really nice. The C-peptide is the exciting part. Insulin and A1c can be manipulated with more aggressive diet and exercise, but not the C-peptide. That shows an intrinsic change. It shows that this works.
Its also interesting to me because the group with no beta cell function was brought to about the same C-peptide value that I currently have which is about 0.5. This is much lower than I was at about a year post transplant. I was usually over 1.0. But, physically it is a giant step away from 0 C-peptide which is where I was pre-transplant. I still feel just as good, I just have to take a few shots. I must be healthier.
I'll be following this study closely. They are hoping to start clinical trials on this soon in Japan.
We just got back from a trip to California for a belated White Christmas. We had a great time.
