Transplant cures type 2 diabetic rats and without drugs

Record: Transplant cures type 2 diabetic rats — without drugs

Marc R. Hammerman, M.D. and Sharon A. Rogers have developed a 'cure' for type 2 diabetes. In a recent study, they transplant the cells of pig pancreatic primordia into a strain of rat with a disorder that closely resembles human type 2 diabetes. The cells grow into insulin producers inside the rat without triggering an attack by the rats' immune systems. This cured the rats' diabetes without the risky immune suppression drugs required to prevent rejection in other transplant-based treatments.

"The transplanted primordia not only appropriately regulated blood sugar in the type 2 diabetic rats, they also reduced insulin resistance," Hammerman said. "The rats are cured by pig insulin, which comes from the transplants and can be measured in their circulation. The rats' own insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are atrophied."

More studies need to be done to see if pig pancreatic primordia can be used to treat type 2 diabetes in humans. However if pig pancreatic primordia can prove to be comparably invisible to the human immune system and eliminate the need for need for anti-rejection drugs, they could represent a virtually unlimited source of donor organs to treat human type 2 diabetes.

Defective Diabetic Test Meters Lead to Diabetic Meter Recalls

Defective Diabetic Test Meters Lead to Diabetic Meter Recalls - American Diabetes Services

In the last two years, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued more than 20 different Class I High Risk recalls for diabetic test meters. Class I recalls are for dangerous or defective products that predictably could cause serious health problems or death.

Many of the recalled diabetic test meters could fail or provide false results, leading to possible mismanagement of diabetes. "Accuracy is the most important feature of diabetic test meters," said Lorne Yaffe, Vice President of American Diabetes Services. "Anyone who is concerned about the reliability of their meter should visit us at http://www.americandiabetes.com or call us at 1-800-933-8085 to see if they qualify for a new, free diabetic test meter delivered directly to their door."

American Diabetes Services carries the newest meters including the Ascensia Contour, FreeStyle glucose meter and the OneTouch Ultra 2. To find out if your diabetic test meters have been recalled, please visit the FDA's website at: http://www.fda.gov/diabetes/index.html