Treatments

Treatments for Diabetes

"The potential impact of islet transplants on patients with juvenile diabetes is unmatched by any other treatment modality."
Bernhard J. Hering, MD Professor of Surgery, Eunice L. Dwan Chair in Diabetes Research, Director Islet Transplantation, Scientific Director, Schulze Diabetes Institute, University of Minnesota

There has been good news recently. Dramatic breakthroughs in the research and treatment of diabetes are offering new hope to millions of patients and their families.

Insulin Replacement Therapy is a common treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes. Diabetics receive exogenous insulin via injections or an insulin pump. However, therapy must continue for a lifetime.

Pancreas Transplantation has been very successful in restoring insulin production in patients with advanced diabetes. Because of the risks, whole pancreas transplantation has been primarily available to persons undergoing kidney transplantation, so it has been mainly performed in patients with advanced complications of the disease patients with end-stage kidney failure.

Islet Cell Transplantation, when developed as an approved clinical procedure, is done on an outpatient basis by transfusing cells by catheter into the portal vein, which brings the islets directly to the liver. There is no need for a lengthy surgery and recovery. Additionally, if derived from pigs, the islet cells survival, function and immune tolerance can be manipulated and improved through animal genetics and transgenesis. It's a potential cure for diabetes patients that may not involve a regimen of immunosuppressants.