Drug that delays type 1 diabetes on trial

Type I diabetes, also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a very difficult disease to manage and can lead to serious complications and other diseases later in life.

A new study that tests the effectiveness of an oral insulin brings some hope of delaying the onset of type I diabetes.

Type I diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and involves years of regimented insulin injections, diet and exercise. Because this kind of diabetes affects developing organs and tissues, it increases the risk of a young person for developing serious complications later in life. Some of these complications include heart disease, blindness, and kidney damage among others.

An international clinical trial by the Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC are looking into determining whether the use of an oral insulin capsule daily can delay the onset of type I diabetes.

“If oral insulin could delay the onset or prevent the disease, we could spare these patients years of difficult management and potential complications such as heart disease and vision loss.”

[source: science daily]

November is “American Diabetes Month”. November 14 is “World Diabetes Day“

Tags: diabetes, type 1, juvenile, insulin-dependent, clinical trial, research, oral insulin, children’s hospital, complications, onset