This treatment is not perfect, as it requires the patient to take anti-rejection drugs, the supply of donor islet cells is limited, and it does require surgery. Research is continuing in this promising field. More on this later in this article.
Drug Therapies
There are a large number of drugs being tested for treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, attacking the problems of these diseases from different angles.
- Some drugs slow the rate in which blood sugar levels rise after meals.
- Some drugs mimic the effects of naturally-occurring hormones that stimulate insulin production, increase the bodies' sensitivity to insulin, reduce appetite, and slow digestion.
- On the other hand, some of the drugs in development block the action of other hormones that are known to raise blood sugar levels.
- Since Type 1 disease is caused by destruction of the islet cells in the pancreas by the diabetic's own immune system (it is an "autoimmune" disease), some research has focused on drugs and vaccines that prevent the destruction of the islet cells. Scientific American reported on such a drug that appeared to be successful in a small trial last year (subscription might be required for the link to work).
- Some drugs are known to increase the body's sensitivity to insulin, and at least two broad classes of drugs with this effect are in use; however, others are being researched.
- There are also non-hormone drugs that stimulate production of insulin by islet cells. Since patients must have functioning islet cells for these drugs to work, they are only useful for patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Therapies for Complications of Diabetes
Diabetes causes a number of severe and debilitating problems, including nerve damage (neuropathy), eye problems (glaucoma, cataracts, retinopathy), heart disease, severe skin problems, gum disease and kidney disease. There are therapies and drugs to treat many of the complications of diabetes, but not all. Research is ongoing for drugs and therapies to treat nerve damage and retinopathy, for example. Diabetics have an increased risk for heart and kidney disease, so many of the therapies used to treat those problems are of interest for diabetics.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
thanks Pete, excellent job and very hopeful
2 - BB
Ditto. Really good post Pete and thanks for the info. I was asked to be a guinea pig in one of those clinical trials but passed. My Type 11 symptoms were my fault (or at least preventable) but my heart goes out to goes little kids with Type 1.
3 - Rex
It is good site by people take advantage, and update their knowledge by this blog.In the diabetics patient sugar lavel rise which create problem , according to me the diabetic patient should take those diet in which sugar quantity is less, like take fruits esspicially plum,and apricot. Do exercise.
4 - rach
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6 - Laura and Rach
dont think we went on this site out of skool just making it clear AS IF! science is satans SPORN!