Have Boston Researchers Found Type 1’s Root Cause?

Will people with type 1 diabetes ever see an end to their need for insulin?

For adults, that prospect doesn’t seem too likely. But new research from Boston Children’s Hospital generates genuine hope that by the time they are grownups, the 215,000 children in the United States currently living with type 1 diabetes will be able put away their insulin kits for good.

Researchers there have found what they believe is the root cause of type 1 diabetes: A molecular pathway, called ATP/P2X7R, triggers immune system attacks on the pancreas, making it unable to produce insulin.

The study started out as an attempt to determine why the body rejects pancreatic cells, either as a misguided immune system attack on a person’s own cells or on transplanted cells. “In order to truly cure diabetes, we needed to pinpoint exactly why this happens,” said lead researcher Dr. Paolo Fiorina of the Nephrology Division at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Identification of the molecular pathway that leads to type 1 diabetes is only a first step.

“With the cause identified, we can now focus on treatment options. Everything from drug therapies to transplants that require less immunosuppression is being explored,” said Fiorina in the Boston Children’s Hospital’s online blog. Later, treatment will focus on outright prevention.

If successful therapies emerge from the Boston research, type 1s ultimately could put away their insulin. “Insulin injections can manage hyperglycemia by reducing the patient’s glucose levels, but they are not the cure,” said Fiorina.

Even with insulin injections, type 1 patients deal with a host of long-term complications ranging from kidney and heart disease to blindness, making the treatment less important than determining the reason why the body stops producing insulin in the first place.

The research is currently being tested on animals, specifically mice, with human testing still several years away. Research results first appeared late last year in Diabetes, the journal of the American Diabetes Association.

Diabetes Health Medical Disclaimer

The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained on or available through this website is for general information purposes only. Opinions expressed here are the opinions of writers, contributors, and commentators, and are not necessarily those of Diabetes Health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website.

Greetings from Nadia

A few facts about me in case you are new to my column and site.

My life in the diabetes community started at a young age as the secret keeper of my maternal and paternal Grandmothers. They both had type 2 diabetes and my days spent alone with them exposed me to their misunderstanding of how their diabetes really affected them. Eating candy bars, hiding the candy wrappers and smoking cigarettes seemed innocent enough to them. A decade later I married a type 1 person living with diabetes and experienced the full court of the diabetes spectrum with my type 2 family members and type 1 husband of almost 20 years.

Login

My grandmothers, the type 2 have struggled with their diabetes as long as I could remember. Later my mother followed in her mother’s footsteps. Sadly, my brother followed in my mother’s footsteps and experienced an early passing at the age of 53. My brother Jamal’s passing had the greatest impact on me. Probably because were the Irish twins; eleven months apart and his departure devastated me.

As I tell most people, diabetes is not a glamorous profession. Most people that work in the industry have a personal connection. This is why I am still here publishing after 26 years.

On the flip side of the coin, helping and inspiring people is my mission. I understand the daily challenges you face regardless of your education, IQ and economic circumstance. I am not a healthcare professional. Simply a lay person who has lived with a Type 1 and Type 2 family member who struggled with their disease. My former Type 1 husband was a role model in how to manage your diabetes, while my intelligent family members were role models on how an invisible disease can be misunderstood, devastating the quality of their life while leaving heart broken family members behind.

The perils of my experience have taught me to never judge anyone. As knowledgeable as I am, I also realize that I have no idea of the strings that pull at each person heart.

What I love about the diabetes community?

Once I meet someone and we share that we have a common experience; their diabetes and my life long experience as a care taker, we tend to have an instant bond. Think about it. How many people do you meet who you feel really get you right after your introduction? The conversations that follow tend to be very personal. Not a common experience with all strangers.

AskNadia Column

I started this column because where ever I go, people tend to ask me a lot of diabetes questions.

My answers are my opinions and it is not to be replaced by your healthcare professional’s opinion. The answers to your question in most cases will include research and other links to give you a borader perspective on your question.