Islet Cell Transplantation: Working Toward a Cureby Robert S.
Dinsmoor The treatment of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes
has come a long way since the discovery of insulin, but a cure
has remained elusive. That may change in the not-so-distant
future. In the quest to end diabetes, researchers have looked
for ways to restore normal pancreatic functioning. Scientists
hope that pancreatic tissue transplants will become an effective
and practical way to help the body produce its own insulin and
thus avoid the complications of Type 1 diabetes. Whole Pancreas
TransplantsPancreas transplantation has long held promise as a
cure for people with diabetes. A properly functioning
transplanted pancreas can make insulin injections unnecessary,
and it can offer a degree of precision in glycemic control that
is impossible to mimic with insulin injections. Doctors have
been transplanting whole pancreases into people with diabetes
since 1966, and studies have shown that transplants can
normalize blood glucose levels and may