Here's some potentially great news for Type 1 diabetics and their families. Well, truth be told, it could be great news for some T1 diabetics, not all. A drug has been devised that comes in tablet form and can be used to combat a particular type of Type 1 diabetes. It's significant because it could have a life-altering impact on those included in this group. Basically, if diagnosed in early infancy, those diabetics could take tablets instead of insulin shots, with all the ouches and hassles that come with it.Here's how it works: infants diagnosed at under six months of age who experienced a change in the Kir6.2 gene were switched from insulin to sulphonylurea tablets. The success rate was a striking ninety percent. According to a BBC report on the experiments, the tablets target the area affected by the genetic change and help restore insulin secretions to normal. Bottom line? The trials demonstrate the importance of genetics in the development of Type 1 diabetes.
1. I think you may have misunderstood - the article states that the treatment does not work for Type 1.
This study is on MODY, which is actually classified as Type 2, although it's a genetic beta cell defect.
So basically these babies have MODY, but were getting misdiagnosed as Type 1 and being put on insulin because of their age.
Posted at 9:30PM on Aug 3rd 2006 by Lili