Eating A Healthy Balanced Diet
What you eat can make a difference to how you feel and how you manage your condition. Thats why weve got a huge range of tasty and nutritious recipes ready for you to try.
Whether youre cooking up a feast for dinner, or looking for something lighter for lunch, weve got you covered. Simply search by ingredient, meal type or dietary requirement and enjoy eating with diabetes.
How Does Stem Cell Treatment Work For Type 1 Diabetes
Using a range of molecular techniques, scientists imitate the development process of pancreatic beta cells to induce growth. Once the stem cells have specialized, they can be transplanted under the skin, where they mature into beta cells.
Gradually, these cells will be able to secrete appropriate amounts of insulin in response to changes in blood glucose levels.
Currently, one clinical trial is testing stem cells as a potential type 1 diabetes treatment. This study recruited 17 patients with type 1 diabetes who relied on insulin injections.
The patients received half a dose of pancreatic cells developed from stem cells.
With the help of immunosuppressive treatment to prevent the patients body from attacking the new cells, the trial announced impressive results from one of those patients 90 days post-treatment, with meaningful outcomes such as:
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Restoration of natural insulin production
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A 91% decrease in daily insulin injection use
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Reduced HbA1c levels are indicative of lower glucose circulation in the blood.
Although results have left researchers optimistic, this clinical trial is still in progress. Furthermore, stem cell application as a therapeutic treatment remains controversial.
There are ethical concerns associated with the application of ESCs, as human embryos are destroyed to obtain the stem cells used in the treatments. Issues can also arise when inducing stem cell growth because there is no guarantee that the cells will grow as intended.
Can Type 1 Diabetes Be Reversed
Some studies¹ show that type 1 diabetes has been reversed in some patients through stem cell implantation or personalized medicine.
However, this is not conclusive proof that type 1 diabetes is reversible. Long-term follow-up is needed to see if these patients can maintain permanent pancreatic function without relying on insulin therapy.
Studies with larger groups are also required to evaluate the effects of potential treatments on a large scale.
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Some Types Of Diabetes Are Milder Than Others
Fact: While diabetes has different categories, like type-1 and type-2 and gestational , these cannot be defined as mild or severe. Across all types of diabetes, uncontrolled cases can lead to serious, long-lasting complications. Despite this, people with diabetes can lead healthy, better lives with proper diabetes management, regardless of the type.
Living With Type 1 Diabetes
You need insulin to live, so youll need to take it every day by injecting it or using an insulin pump. Youll also check your blood sugar levels throughout the day to make sure youre staying in your target range as much as possible. Your health care team will help you understand what your target range is and how to stay within it.
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Viacytes Encaptra Cell Delivery System
Without a doubt, ViaCytes implantable capsule device is closest to paving the way to a successful cure.
How it works
First developed by doctors, ViaCytes technology was tested on over 1000 rodents with medically induced type 1 diabetes.
It currently has two clinical trials in progress with two different devices: the Encaptra capsule device which contains pancreatic beta cell precursors , and the PEC-Direct works very similarly but is for a more vulnerable portion of the diabetes population.
ViaCyte began working with the University of California, San Diego as its first clinical site.
Anyone Can Get Type 1 Diabetes
It isnt completely clear what causes type 1 diabetes, but we know that diet and lifestyle habits dont. Type 1 is thought to be the result of an autoimmune response, where your body attacks the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that acts like a key to let blood sugar into your bodys cells for use as energy. Sometimes infection with a virus seems to trigger the autoimmune response. Many people with type 1 diabetes have family members with type 1, but most dont.
The peak age for being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is around 13 or 14 years, but people can be diagnosed when theyre much younger and older .
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Promising Early Results Show That Longstanding Harvard Stem Cell Institute Research May Have Paved The Way For A Breakthrough Treatment Of Type 1 Diabetes Utilizing Research From The Melton Lab Vertex Pharmaceuticals Has Developed Vx
The patient was treated with a single infusion of VX-880 at half the target dose in conjunction with immunosuppressive therapy. The patient, who was diagnosed with T1D 40 years ago and has been dependent on exogenous insulin, achieved successful engraftment and demonstrated rapid and robust improvements in multiple measures. These included increases in fasting and stimulated C-peptide, improvements in glycemic control, including HbA1c, and decreases in exogenous insulin requirement, signifying the restoration of insulin-producing islet cells.
VX-880 is not only a potential breakthrough in the treatment of T1D, it is also one of the very first demonstrations of the practical application of embryonic stem cells, using stem cells that have been differentiated into functional islets to treat a patient, explained Doug Melton, Ph.D., co-director of HSCI, is the Xander University Professor at Harvard and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Unlike prior treatments, this innovative therapy gives the patient functional hormone producing cells that control glucose metabolism. This potentially obviates the lifelong need for patients with diabetes to self-inject insulin as the replacement cells provide the patient with the natural factory to make their own insulin, explained Melton.
What About Type 2 Diabetes And Its Treatment
Compared to type 1, type 2 diabetes is much more common. According to diabetes.org.uk, type 1 affects 8 per cent of the population, while type 2 affects some 90 per cent.
Type 2 causes the level of sugar in our blood to be excessively high and the body to produce too little insulin.
While type 2 diabetes can sometimes be managed by assuming a healthier lifestyle, some need insulin therapy or might even require kidney dialysis.
With the goal of making life easier for those patients suffering from more serious symptoms, scientists at the University of Cambridge have recently successfully trialled their own artificial pancreas for use by people living with type 2 diabetes and at risk of kidney failure.
The technology, which combines an app developed at the University of Cambridge called CamAPS FX with a glucose monitor and an insulin pump, was found to help patients safely and effectively manage their blood sugar levels.
“Patients living with type 2 diabetes and kidney failure are a particularly vulnerable group and managing their condition trying to prevent potentially dangerous highs or lows of blood sugar levels can be a challenge. There’s a real unmet need for new approaches to help them manage their condition safely and effectively,” said Dr Charlotte Boughton from the Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge.
The Cambridge team is now trialling the technology on type 2 patients who don’t need dialysis.
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First Person Seemingly Cured Of Type 1 Diabetes
Dear Doctors: As someone who was born with Type 1 diabetes, Im very interested in any new advances that make it easier to live with this disease. Ive recently heard on the news that someone has actually been cured. Is that possible? Is there going to be a treatment soon?
Dear Reader: Youre referring to the release of preliminary data from a clinical trial that is testing a potential cure for Type 1 diabetes. The trial is quite small — just 17 participants — and the initial result concerns only one person. However, the outcome is so remarkable, its making international news. According to the Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company conducting the trial, the first participant has not only decreased his daily insulin use by 91%, but for the first time in his life, his body is producing insulin in response to blood sugar fluctuation.
For those who are not familiar with Type 1 diabetes, its an autoimmune disease. This occurs when the immune system malfunctions and mistakenly attacks and damages the bodys own tissues. In Type 1 diabetes, certain white blood cells attack and destroy the clusters of specialized cells in the pancreas known as islets, which produce insulin. Without insulin, the cells of the body cant access blood sugar, which is one of the products of digestion. Not only does this leave cells without their main source of energy, but it results in an uncontrolled buildup of glucose in the blood, which is extremely dangerous.
When Will This Become Available To More People With Type 1 Diabetes
Similar to people who receive other organ transplants, those who receive VX-880 must continually take immunosuppressants to prevent the bodys immune system from rejecting the new beta cells. We use a standard regimen of immunosuppressants, also used in patients receiving kidney transplants, an established regimen weve found to be generally well-tolerated, Markmann said.
Currently, because of the risks of infection associated with immunosuppressants, only those with severe hypoglycemia unawareness have been eligible to be candidates for this initial research. This is because these candidates specifically have the most to gain from this type of therapy given the risks associated with hypoglycemia unawareness.
Unlike other interventions such as full pancreas transplants or beta cell islet transplants from human donors, VX-880 has the potential to be used on a much larger scale.
Right now in the US, there are only about 1,000 pancreas transplants available, so the supply is a significant problem, Markmann said. Additionally, islets tend to be variable in quality. One of the most important aspects of this work is that there can be an unlimited supply of beta cells for transplantation going forward.
On May 2, 2022, the FDA paused the trial after concluding that there was not enough evidence to support increasing the dosage of beta cells to the full planned amount. According to Markmann, the FDA wanted more information to support increasing the dose of beta cells.
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Is Type 2 Diabetes Curable
Here are a few of the best things that you can do to reverse your diabetes once and for all.
1. Get More Sunshine
More and more emerging research is showing that theres a link between diabetes and vitamin D.
Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D can play a big role in diabetes by optimizing glucose metabolism and regulating blood glucose. Studies have found that adequate levels of vitamin D can slash the risk of diabetes by a third .
While vitamin D is naturally present in some foods and fortified in others, the best source of vitamin D is sunlight. Most sources recommend 5 to 30 minutes of sun exposure at least twice a week to meet vitamin D needs.
For those with limited sun exposure, supplementation may be necessary to make sure youre meeting your needs. Consult with your doctor to see if a vitamin D supplement is the right choice for you.
2. Drink Apple Cider Vinegar
If youre a regular reader of my blog, you probably know that Im a pretty big fan of apple cider vinegar. From promoting weight loss to easing inflammation, its one of my favorite natural remedies for supporting overall health.
But did you know that apple cider vinegar can also be beneficial when it comes to diabetes?
I recommend dissolving a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in some water and drinking before each meal to get the full effect. Also, check out a few of my ACV drink recipes that you can whip up and enjoy between meals.
3. Get Moving
Causes Of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakes the cells in your pancreas as harmful and attacks them.
Without insulin, your body will break down its own fat and muscle, resulting in weight loss. This can lead to a serious short-term condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. This is when the bloodstream becomes acidic, you develop dangerous levels of ketones in your blood stream and become severely dehydrated.
This results in the body being unable to produce insulin, which is required to move glucose out of the blood and into your cells to be used for energy. This is called Type 1 diabetes.
Read more about the causes of type 1 diabetes
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The Honeymoon Phase Of Type 1 Diabetes
When a person has diabetes, his or her body may continue to make insulin for some time.
Its common for individuals with diabetes to have high blood sugar levels when they first start using insulin, especially if they are taking an emergency shot. Diabetics bodies respond differently to the hormone in some people, the surge can last days or weeks. Meanwhile, their insulin levels may fluctuate during this time. They might require fewer insulin injections. the doctors call this phase the honeymoon phase.
Its common for patients to boost their insulin doses gradually over time, thinking that if they do so, the disease will improve. This is rarely the case, though.
During this time, people should continue to communicate with their healthcare team and follow the established treatment strategy.
How Is Diabetes Diagnosed
To check if a person has diabetes or not, the following medical tests are performed and suggested by the healthcare professionals-
- Fasting Plasma Glucose Test: In this test, the blood glucose level of a person is checked after at least eight hours of the last meal . The test is usually conducted in the morning hours. Through this test, the doctors detect the symptoms of diabetes or prediabetes.
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: This test is performed in two halves to measure the blood sugar level. First, the blood sample is collected after overnight fasting . Then again, the sample is collected two hours after one takes a glucose-containing beverage. The test can efficiently diagnose prediabetes or diabetes.
- Random Plasma Glucose Test: The doctor checks the patients blood sugar level irrespective of time for the last meal. This test is conducted to check only the symptoms of diabetes and not prediabetes.
- A1c Test: For this test, one does not require too fast. In this, the average blood sugar level for the last two to three months is analyzed. The test is performed to measure the percentage of blood sugar in hemoglobin. It can confirm and diagnose both diabetes and prediabetes.
You may now have the question- is diabetes Curable? Well, currently, there are no conclusive studies that could vouch for it. To learn more about diabetes and get the best treatment, connect at Hemi Soneja Clinic. Here, you will get the right suggestions and care according to your concern.
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Diabetes Sick Day Rules
If you need to take insulin to control your diabetes, you should have received instructions about looking after yourself when you’re ill known as your “sick day rules”.
Contact your diabetes care team or GP for advice if you haven’t received these.
The advice you’re given will be specific to you, but some general measures that your sick day rules may include could be to:
- keep taking your insulin it’s very important not to stop treatment when you’re ill your treatment plan may state whether you need to temporarily increase your dose
- test your blood glucose level more often than usual most people are advised to check the level at least four times a day
- keep yourself well hydrated make sure you drink plenty of sugar-free drinks
- keep eating eat solid food if you feel well enough to, or liquid carbohydrates such as milk, soup and yoghurt if this is easier
- check your ketone levels if your blood glucose level is high
Seek advice from your diabetes care team or GP if your blood glucose or ketone level remains high after taking insulin, if:
- you’re not sure whether to make any changes to your treatment
- you develop symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis
- you have any other concerns
Read more about sick day rules
Treating Type 1 Diabetes
It’s important that diabetes is diagnosed as early as possible. If left untreated, type-1 diabetes is a life-threatening condition. It’s essential that treatment is started early.
Diabetes can’t be cured, but treatment aims to keep your blood glucose levels as normal as possible and control your symptoms, to prevent health problems developing later in life.
If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll be referred to a diabetes care team for specialist treatment and monitoring.
As your body can’t produce insulin, you’ll need regular insulin injections to keep your glucose levels normal. You’ll be taught how to do this and how to match the insulin you inject to the food you eat, taking into account your blood glucose level and how much exercise you do.
Insulin injections come in several different forms, with each working slightly differently. You’ll most likely need a combination of different insulin preparations.
Insulin is given to some patients by a continuous infusion of fast acting insulin . This is where a small device constantly pumps insulin into your bloodstream through a plastic tube that’s inserted under the skin with a needle.
There are alternatives to insulin injections and pumps, but they’re only suitable for a small number of patients. They are:
Read more about diagnosing diabetes and treating type 1 diabetes
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