Does anyone ever think that diabetics will be able to produce insulin in the future? instead of injection?

Question

As in a cure for Diabetes of some sort?

Answer 1

Recently, some surgeons found that an operation which makes food bypass part of the intestine (the duodenum, which is the closest part to the stomach) reduced the need for treatment in some diabetics.

If the reasons for this type of response to treatment are better understood, then a way of avoiding insulin injections might be found. Efforts are also being made to develop oral treatments (insulin cannot be taken orally), so that the condition can be managed by taking tablets.

Conditions like diabetes are complicated but the 'science' that has been carried out so far has been simple, because of the 'reductive model' used by medics to understand body systems. This works by comparing bits of the body with mechanical processes; the heart as a pump, or the nerves like electric wires.

So far, treating diabetes has been reduced to manipulating a simple relationship between insulin and sugar. Mechanically, it's like 'treating' a flat tyre by supplying extra air to replace the air that's escaped. Finding the puncture, and inventing a way to fix it, might be easy once the basic problem is fully understood.

As we gain more understanding of the complexity and 'interconnectedness' that the body uses, we can make more sophisticated guesses about what's going wrong in conditions like Diabetes. Eventually, we might be able to do something that 'fixes' the problem, instead of giving constant treatment that only 'controls' it.

Answer 2

There are already experimental surgeries going ahead where islet cells (the insulin producing cells) are being transplanted into the liver of a recipient. The hope here is that, as the liver has a rich source of oxygen, that the islet cells will 'bed' themselves in and begin to produce insulin. So far, results have been encouraging but some recipients have needed to go back onto insulin injections.

At the moment the surgery is only being offered to difficult to control Type 1 diabetics, but there is hope.

It's not all plain sailing though. You'd have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of your life which carries it's own risks.

Take a look at the sites listed below for further information.

You may wonder why I've listed so many sites. It's because I'm really interested, and am currently being considered for transplant myself.

The automatic control systems mentioned by sosgez are already being worked on by several pump manufacturing companies.

Answer 3

They won't ever be able to produce their own insulin, because the cause of diabetes is damage to the islet cells in the pancreas which produce insulin. Once they're damaged, no more insulin can be produced, so unless they find some way to reverse the damage, they won't be able to find a cure.

As for an alternative to injections, there is currently a trial using inhalers which seems to be quite promising, and I know in certain cases they can put an implant under the skin which releases insulin for a set period of time, avoiding the need for the daily injections.

Answer 4

hello
the reason for type 1 diabetes is lack of insulin due to the beta cells not producing it. instead of injections - insulin inhalers are being tried out. it may be possible to implant an artificial pancreas which would automatically release insulin according to the body's need
as far as Type 2 diabetes is concerned- it caused due to insulin resistance rather than lack so most drugs help to reduce this resistance.

Answer 5

There are two potential cures currently being developed. One is the implant of insulin producing pancreas cells. My understanding is that it might be grafted onto the intestines where it could work to produce the insulin needed. More to my liking is the stem cell research that could either repair the pancreas or grow pancreas cells outside the body using a person's own DNA so when implanted there would be no rejection. Either one sounds good to me.

Answer 6

depends on the diabetes. Diabetes type 1 or Type 2. One can't produce any insulin, the other developed cellular insulin-resistance, and with a proper diet and the second one can be cured.

they're working on a cure, but it doesn't seem likely without some sort of insulin excreting implant.

Answer 7

Many common natural remedies are claimed to have blood sugar lowering properties that make them useful for people with or at high risk of diabetes. Learn here https://tr.im/e8eir

A number of clinical studies have been carried out in recent years that show potential links between herbal therapies and improved blood glucose control, which has led to an increase in people with diabetes using these more 'natural' ingredients to help manage their condition.

Answer 8

Shocking Truth About Diabetes Revealed : http://DiabetesKeyBook.com/Access

Answer 9

diabetics wont change or produce there own insulin that's wot i have been told by my doctors I'm a diabetic

Answer 10

Yeah I am hopeful. One day they will implant insulin producing cells or so.And body may start working normal.........