Research News
Research News: The Diabetes Cure
Dr. Bernhard Hering (photo) and a team of researchers from the Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation at the University of Minnesota are taking an innovative approach in the quest to cure diabetes. The University of Minnesota is well-known for its pancreas and islet cell transplant program, and in February 2005 Dr. Hering reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association the results of his program using only a single donor pancreas for each of his eight patients. All eight achieved insulin independence after transplantation. These results are unprecedented and indicate that the efficiency of islet transplants can be increased in selected patients to the point that results of whole pancreas transplantation are matched.
At a presentation at Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation offices in December 2005, Dr. Hering candidly informed us that, realistically, there is an insufficient amount of human islets available to treat the 20.8 million individuals afflicted with diabetes. It was then that Dr. Hering shared his vision for a cure of diabetes that could be tested in patients as early as 2008. He presented his innovative plan of raising a herd of pigs that will be an ongoing source of islet cells. Why, you may ask, would pig islets be a better choice than human islets? In his research, Dr. Hering has successfully transplanted pig islets into monkeys with diabetes and cured them. Dr. Hering, who is a world-renowned researcher, has put together a stellar team of researchers and experts to make his dream a reality.
Dr. Hering and his team have developed an innovative and promising plan. Through his efforts in Minnesota he was introduced to a group of farmers in South Dakota that raise about 40 percent of the pork used in the United States. Their technology and expertise made for a perfect match. Their facility design will meet the stringent guidelines enforced by the FDA in the use of animals for xenotransplantation. The team of researchers is expert in the field of genetic engineering, enabling the creation of a superior donor pig ideal for islet xenotransplantation; and the development of a biosecure environment – enabling the development of an environment that will allow for the raising of a disease-free pig line.
Dr. Hering’s goal is to:
- Establish facilities to raise disease-free pigs with a high yield of islet cells
- Genetically modify pig islets to minimize the need for immunosuppressive medications
- Produce animals with sufficient islet supplies for Phase I, II and III clinical trials
- Develop high-capacity production facilities for widespread distribution of porcine islet cells
DRWF is committed to finding a cure, and support of this type of innovative, out-of-the- box research will help us reach our goal sooner rather than later.
We wish Dr. Hering and his team well in their efforts and will keep our readers posted regarding their results.
If you would like more information about Dr. Hering’s research please email us at diabeteswellness@diabeteswellness.net and we will send you a packet. Please send a tax deductible donation today.
Supplements - are they really helping?
The National Library of Medicine has provided, through MedlinePlus, helpful information about alternative therapies. Over 100 herbal and supplement monographs have been published by the National Standard and are now available online. The National Standard provides peer-reviewed, evidence-based information on alternative treatments. These monographs include a table of uses based on scientific evidence. The evidence is then graded on a scale of A (strong scientific evidence for its use) to F (strong scientific evidence against its use). Information about proper dosing, safety, interactions and references are also included. For access to this information www.medlineplus.gov, click on Drugs and Supplements.
MedlinePlus has detailed information on a variety of health topics and is an excellent resource for accurate and up-to-date information.
Breaking News: FDA Approves Inhaled Insulin (Exubera) for Controlling Type 1 & 2 diabetes.
January 27, 2006
Exubera was found in clinical trials to be as effective as short-acting insulin injections, and to improve blood sugar control when added to diabetes pills. Exubera will be available for patients by mid-year. If you would like to know more about Exubera please contact Pfizer at 1-800-EXUBERA. Pfizer News
Source: Pfizer
What is Your Waist Measurement?
Waist circumference linked to diabetes and heart disease The “Shape of the Nation Report,” conducted by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, documented that doctors and the public were unaware of the link between abdominal girth and heart diseases. Six out of ten Americans did not realize there was a connection between body fat and diabetes. Physicians ranked abdominal fat to be as much of a health risk factor as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Although doctors are beginning to recognize the significance of waist circumference, 62% admitted to not measuring waist circumferences of their patients. A waist measurement greater than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men is considered high risk for diabetes and heart disease.
Embryonic Stem Cells Stimulated to Produce Insulin
Using new technology, a team of researchers led by Moon Shin-yong of Seoul National University were able to change embryonic stem cells into insulin-producing cells. Dr. Shin-yong and his team injected a protein into the embryonic stem cell and insulin- producing cells were produced. This discovery demonstrated that the addition of a protein may provide a key in the development of stem cells into differentiated cells, which could then be used to treat a variety of diseases including diabetes. This is a significant breakthrough in understanding a means of moving stem cell research forward.