There was news that a treatment was found for diabetes in the United States by using pancreatic cells. Is it true? What are the possibilities of a cure?

You are talking about pancreatic transplants and islet cell transplants. The pancreatic transplants have been around for many years and are usually combined with kidney transplants. They have been successful in a majority of individuals, but require multiple medications to prevent rejection. In some cases, the pancreas does not continue to produce insulin after five to six years requiring you to go back to insulin.

Islet cell transplants are increasing over the past several years, particularly with the new “Edmonton Protocol.” This regimen of medications seem to improve the life of the islet cells which are infused into the body and begin to produce insulin. The overall success in the past several years has approached about 70 percent.

There is no cure at the present time, but technology and medications keep improving. At best, there is control.

ABS