With so much exciting information on these advances, it is sad that only a few people know about it. What is important to note is that although there is no known cure (as yet) that will completely rid one of diabetes, there have been breakthroughs on how both types can be regulated and effectively treated. What's more exciting is that type 1 diabetes researchers have discovered treatment methods that hold great promise in keeping the disease in check and tightly under control.



For type 1 diabetes patients, a pancreatic transplant can free one of the need for insulin injections that he used to routinely have to put up with. In most cases, though, the patient still needs to take immunosuppressive medications.

One other cure that has been touted to have great potential is the use of exogenous beta cells. An alternative would be the use of stem cells to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. There is still the need, however, for the use of immunosuppressive medications in the long term as these treatments have the side effect wherein the immune system attacks the transplanted cells.

There is another promising potential cure associated with the use of nanotechnology. By using microscopic implants to inject insulin into the blood stream and monitor blood glucose levels consistently, diabetes could potentially be fully cured without the need for medication or surgery. This method is still mostly theory. Scientists are still performing research in this area and further advancements in technology are required.

A more recent finding in the area of type 1 diabetes cures has been made. In trials that have been performed, anti-CD3 antibodies and proinsulin peptides have been used together as therapy. This combination has been to reverse type 1 diabetes in animal tests that were performed and plans are being made to perform human clinical trials using this method. In animal testing trials, this combination has been successful in producing a long lasting reversal of type 1 diabetes of over a year's length.

What is promising with the use of the last treatment is that it enables the introduction of beta cells into the pancreas without the danger of the body's immune system attacking them.

As you can see, medical science and research has made plenty of headway in the treatment of diabetes. Although there is still a lot to do, you can be assured that an effective cure for diabetes would soon be underway.