Can Type 1 Diabetes be Cured​ with Islet Cell Therapy?

Discover How Islet Cell Transplants May Finally End Insulin Dependence for People with Type 1 Diabetes

Explore with this video: 

✔ Why scientists are calling islet cell transplantation our closest approach yet to a Type 1 diabetes cure

✔ The fascinating breakthrough of synthetic islet cells

✔ A surprising new home for insulin production in your body

✔ Has the clinical data shown success?

✔ What you should know about the gentler immunosuppression needed compared to other transplants

✔ Who qualifies for current clinical trials and how to explore this option if you experience severe lows

Endocrinologists Dr. Steve Edelman and Dr. Jeremy Pettus reveal how islet cell transplantation could cure Type 1 diabetes by replacing destroyed insulin-producing cells with synthetic ones. This breakthrough overcomes previous limitations of cadaver donors, making treatment scalable worldwide. The procedure delivers cells through an IV to the liver, where clinical trials show most patients achieve insulin independence and eliminate severe hypoglycemia. While requiring immunosuppression (at lower doses than organ transplants), this treatment represents the first viable cure entering final trial phases. Current Vertex clinical trials at T1Dstudy.com focus on patients with recurrent severe hypoglycemia episodes.

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3 Things We Need to Cure Type 1 Diabetes

People have been saying for years that a cure for diabetes is right around the corner. Well, we’ve been waiting to turn that corner for decades (and who are these “people” setting the time frames, anyway? No one knows). We’re still anxiously awaiting a cure, but we’re truly closer now than we’ve ever been!

3 Things We Need to Cure Type 1 Diabetes

People have been saying for years that a cure for diabetes is right around the corner. Well, we’ve been waiting to turn that corner for decades (and who are these “people” setting the time frames, anyway? No one knows). We’re still anxiously awaiting a cure, but we’re truly closer now than we’ve ever been!

Why More People Aren’t Screening for Type 1 Diabetes

Did you know that up to 90% of people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes don’t have a family history of the condition? Interestingly, if you have a first-degree family member with type 1 diabetes (your mom, dad, sister, brother, kids), you’re up to 15 times more likely to develop type 1. What that tells us is that screening for type 1 diabetes is especially important if you have a family history of the condition, but it’s also important even if you don’t!

48 Comments
  1. Interested? Been T1Doabetic since 1992 with no major complications.

    • Interested

    • I have been type one since 1968. No major complications. Had two c Sections to have my children. Had some problems with highs and lows as a teenager.

      Thinking about doing something now because I’ve been up and down a lot. I’m no scientist, but things are weird with my BG’s lately

      I went on the Medtronic insulin pump in 2003, took 3 shots a day prior to that since 1968. I’m now on the Tandem TSlimx2 insulin pump now since 2020.

      I’m tired of all of it. I’m constantly looking at my pump day in and day out at least once or twice hourly.

      I might have a problem taking a lot of pills, if they are big, no problem with small pills.

      That’s a bit of my info. But would need a lot more info from you

      Thank you

  2. More than interested! I’m now 68 and have had it since I was 18…50 yrs of estimating carbs and insulin. Was hospitalized twice in those 50 yrs with low, low glucose levels (in the 20’s)- I can’t really feel them till I’m in the high 40’s.

    I’m in Central Florida and starting with a new endocrinologist (Dr.Sista) and hoping she is more cutting edge than my last.

  3. I have what my doctor says is brittle diabetics just last week I came home and dropped low so fast I passed out and hit my head on the door and my daughter came home found me on the floor four hours later this has been happening to me for the last several years I once passed out and was down for 22 hours and when I didn’t show up for a service the church member came and found me laying on the hallway floor. I wear a Dexcom and it helps by letting my daughter know that I am having a problem. I would love to be apart of this study if I can

  4. Would be interested in being part of the research. I have doe several trial testing for many diabetic studies but not this.

  5. Plain and simple 53 years of diabetes. Hell yes I would love to try.

  6. I have a 6-year-old daughter that just got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes we’re really having a hard time with this and can use some help if you guys are able to help please let me know thank you

  7. Yes I’d be interested…diagnosed type 1 since 2018,

  8. Yes I would love to do this. I have had type 1 diabetes for 30 years. Diagnosed as gestational while pregnant with my daughter and it never went away.

    • Hope you’re able to be part of the study, and thank you for your interest in taking part! 🙂

  9. You had me at Islet Cell

  10. I’ve been T1D SINCE 1987

  11. Have been praying and hoping for something like this! Very interested.

  12. I’m type 1

  13. My daughter banked my grandsons cord cells for this very purpose. Insurance in case he is diagnosed with T1D. I have been T1D for 35 years. First in the family but never know when you DNA was been triggered for future generations. Whishing you guys luck on this study.

  14. T1d for 41 years. Good health. Active. Used to do a lot of clinical trials for insulin development and delivery in the 90’s. I’m interested

    • Thanks for your participation in previous clinical trials – so important in helping to advance treatments!

  15. Hello. My daughter has been diagnosed with T1D since she was 6. She has been very active with her day to day routine and as a father, I see that she cannot live with this disease as a young woman. I been conducting research on Stem cells research and believe that she can be a good candidate for this research.

    • Hi Pedro,
      Your daughter can live a long and healthy life with type 1 diabetes! There are tons and tons of people who have lived well with the condition for over 50 years (including Dr. Edelman). The Vertex study may require a minimum age of 18 for trial participants, but you can inquire and apply here: https://880.t1dstudy.com/

  16. Interested

  17. Very interested. If I could Change one thing in my life.It would be to no longer have type when diabetes. It’s difficult because I always have to be prepared for something that might not be right with my pump or have enough insulin on hand when i’m on an outing. Making sure I always have snacks in case I drop low. I wanna feel normal again. However my metronic pump has done wonders for me. although the cost is very high for supplies

    • Living with type 1 diabetes is a physical, emotional, and financial burden for sure. We are hopeful this therapy will be available in the not too distant future!

  18. I hope for my son!

  19. Wondering if these islet transplants last forever, or if they have to continue to be replenished at certain intervals. Also, at 71 years with diabetes, is this hope for an older, brittle diabetic?

    • It’s a very good question about how long they will last and if we will need more over time, and we shall see. If you’re healthy enough for an infusion into your portal vein, you would be a candidate.

  20. Can umbilical cord blood cells that we stored at birth be used for this type of treatment?

    • Hi Christina,
      We don’t need to do that anymore because we can synthesize the cells in a lab, and they’re more pure and easier to manipulate.

  21. I would be interested in this research

  22. Sign me up

  23. My 7 yr old daughter has her own embryonic stem cells we kept from birth. Is there any way to use these stem cells to make islet cells that will not require immuno suppressant drugs?

    • In terms of the Vertex approach, they’re able to synthesize enough islet cells to make someone free of insulin. At this point they would not be able to take the cells from your daughter, but you should still hang onto them. At some point some investigators might be able to target those cells towards insulin producing islet cells, though there may not be enough cells to produce enough insulin.

  24. Hello,
    I’m a research nurse coordinator for islet stem cell transplants in the San Francisco Bay Area. For anyone in California interested, please reach out to me: 628-233-0430 or islettransplant@ucsf.edu.

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