Scientists and health practitioners believe that transplanting insulin-producing pancreas cells is a diabetes treatment that should be implemented eventually, and now, a new study by the National Institutes of Health shows that the procedure can protect even the most seriously ill patients from life-threatening complications of the disease.
Pancreas cell transplants are used in some countries, but as of now, they are only approved in the United Sates for use in research studies. However, researchers are hopeful that the new findings will help in the licensing process for the cells in order to help those with Type 1 diabetes who are most at risk for drops in blood sugar, which can lead to seizures and death.
"Cell-based diabetes therapy is real and works and offers tremendous potential for the right patient," said Bernhard Hering of the University of Minnesota and lead author of the study.
When glucose levels drop too low, most people suffering from Type 1 diabetes experience early warning signs such as sweating, heart palpitations and tremors, which act as signals to eat or drink something for a glucose boost. However, some people eventually cease to experience these symptoms, putting them in serious danger when their blood sugar plummets.
The National Institutes of Health targeted these high-risk patients for the study, giving a total of 48 people at eight different medical centers at least one islet cell transplant.
A year later, the team found that 88 percent of patients did not experience severe hypoglycemia events, had a restored awareness of their blood sugar dips and possessed nearly normal glucose levels. After two years, 71 percent of patients were still doing well.
Although insulin independence wasn't the goal of the study, 52 percent of patients no longer needed insulin shots, and some used lower doses after just one year.
"The findings suggest that for people who continue to have life-altering severe hypoglycemia despite optimal medical management, islet transplantation offers a potentially lifesaving treatment that in the majority of cases eliminates severe hypoglycemic events while conferring excellent control of blood sugar," said Anthony Fauci, director of the NIAID.
"It's just an amazing gift," said Lisa Bishop of Eagle River, Wis., who received new islet cells in 2010 and no longer needs to rely on insulin shots.
If the new insulin-producing pancreas cell transplants are to be approved in the future, the FDA says that there must be a standard method for the procedure in order for it to qualify for insurance coverage, something that the new study paves the way for.
The findings were published in the April 18 issue of Diabetes Care.
