Is Stem Cell Research Beneficial To Diabetics?
March 30, 2007 by Kendra James, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Stem cell research has caused much controversy over the last few years. Is it a scientific point of contention, a political battle or a religious debate? Different people have very different views on the topic. If my parents taught me one lesson as a youngin’, it is not to talk about religion or politics.
Diabetes is not usually a controversial topic and does not raise eyebrows on a regular basis. But did you know that stem cell research is linked to the disease? Developments of new treatments and therapies could be on the horizon.
Such research continues to this day as scientists seek new treatments for a variety of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart disease and kidney failure. But government funding for human embryo and fetal research is another matter altogether, one that as a political issue is inextricably linked to the controversy over abortion.
I am not stating my political views or my religious preferences. Do I agree or disagree with stem cell research? You can deduce that answer for yourself.
Being a diabetic, as well as health care professional, I welcome new advancements in diabetic medications and treatments. It is important that scientists have every opportunity to explore and research what could potentially be the “missing link”.
President Bush used his veto power Wednesday for the first time since taking office 5 1/2 years ago, saying that an embryonic stem-cell research bill “crossed a moral boundary.
Without stem cell research, will scientists be able to study such diseases to the fullest capacity? With stem cell research, would there be new advancements in diabetes that would have otherwise been unattainable?
Also in a statement, Lawrence T. Smith, chairman of the American Diabetes Association, called the veto “a devastating setback for the 20.8 million American children and adults with diabetes — and those who love and care for them.”
Research using this technology is strongly supported in a number of countries, including Australia, Israel, the Czech Republic, Singapore, Korea, and the United Kingdom. Others in the world appreciate the potential of this technology. If we continue to prevent federal funds from being used to support this research in the United States, the ability of our biomedical scientists to compete with other research teams throughout the world will be undermined.
Only time will tell if stem cell research is federally funded. I hope that all aspects of this debate are looked at from a neutral point of view with science and research being at the center of the discussion.
via The New England Journal of Medicine
Stem cell research will continue whether or not the US government allows it. Treatments using stem cells or results from studying stem cells will eventually be developed by other countries (probably by US-owned corps with internatioanl labs). But everything would happen a heckuva lot faster if the US research community were allowed to get involved beyond its current limitations. Meanwhile, patients wait, and many suffer.
@HsienLei: I totally agree with your position. I think many patients are living on borrowed time waiting for that one development. My other concern validates what you said above. Other countries are currently pursuing this type of research with or without US government funding. Where will that leave US researchers? Will they be able to “compete” or will the US fall behind in essential research?
Stem cell research is benificial to all diabetics because beta cells can also be implanted in future in human pancreas with this advance and there will be no need of artificial insulins at all.
@Vipul: I was reading about that yesterday. Advancements like this excite me about the research of the future!
Dear Kendra
Injections of Insulin will soon become a matter of past after stem cell research.Daily insulin shots are very painful and crippling.
@Vipul:I welcome that day. It will benefit so many people!