When treating diabetes, today's doctors focus on establishing blood glucose control, but often overlook the need to protect against common diabetic complications such as blindness, kidney damage, and nerve damage. The DCCT, even with a comprehensive treatment program, had a complication rate of approximately 40% of participants.
People who do not have diabetes make insulin with C-peptide. Those of us diabetics who inject synthetic insulin do not get the C-peptide. When scientists began developing insulin - they weeded out the pieces of the amino acid chain they felt were insignificant in lowering blood glucose. Synthetic insulin was designed to reduce the dangerous buildup of excess sugar in the bloodstream. Uh oh - hindsight is surprisingly clear! The long-term complications were initially thought to be caused by lack of insulin - not lack of something that should've been in it. It would make sense if insulin came equipped with this critically important element, wouldn't it?
Tada! C-peptide is the connecting peptide found on the amino acid chain of naturally produced insulin, but left on the cutting room floor in the lab. Studies have shown that C-peptide prevents the development and progression of many diabetic complications and was shown to improve glucose metabolism up to 66%.
Regardless of the potential profit decay C-peptide might cause the production of insulin - the bottom line is the salvation it will provide every man, woman, and child injecting insulin. If you're taking insulin injections, chances are you won't stop taking insulin because you're adding C-peptide to your daily lineup. Chances are - you'll be around a lot longer, and a lot healthier because you do not have the complications most often associated with long-term diabetes.
Wouldn't that be reason enough for you to celebrate the company that brings C-peptide to the drugstore nearest you? Consumer loyalty goes a long way. For those companies who knew a long time ago how beneficial C-peptide would be but didn't do a thing about it - is it really the 33% loss in insulin sales you didn't want to encounter? C'mon. We can handle the truth.
1. C-Peptide efficacy has already been proven as an adjunct to insulin and the best part as a means of preventing/interfering with complications so often associated with T1DM. Besides being used as a tool and marker of insulin availability, the article and many others provide information and insight to that of its(C-Peptide) role in the prevention and delay of severe complications associated w/T1DM.
So, why the delay in making this available?
Where are all the organizations such as JDRF, ADA, The Joslin Foundation and others? Are they all too busy trying to get Grant monies instead from other pursuits?
The prevention of Diabetes is a worthy goal, however if the means to make a dent in the destruction of people's Lives from existing Diabetes is available(C-Peptide), than that is a more noble, worthwhile and ethically sound way to go.
Posted at 11:32AM on Mar 27th 2007 by BetterCell