Research shows promise in reversing Type 1 diabetes

[IDemo]

By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times

June 25, 2011
Preliminary experiments in a handful of people suggest that it might be possible to reverse Type 1 diabetes using an inexpensive vaccine to stop the immune system from attacking cells in the pancreas.

Research in mice had already shown that the tuberculosis vaccine called BCG, prevents T cells from destroying insulin-secreting cells, allowing the pancreas to regenerate and begin producing insulin again, curing the disease.

Now tests with very low doses of the vaccine in humans show transient increases in insulin production, researchers will report Sunday at a San Diego meeting of the American Diabetes Assn.

The Massachusetts General Hospital team is now gearing up to use higher doses of the vaccine in larger numbers of people in an effort to increase and prolong the response.

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-bcg-diabetes-20110625,0,6341862.story

[IDemo]

1. OK, I have to ask: why no fast-track option for willing patients?

I have had Type 1 for nearly 50 years. I've had very roughly 50,000 insulin injections and countless blood glucose tests. I have done very well and have experienced no major complications. Yet.

So why must I wait for years until the arduous process of proving this treatment is complete and the FDA has put its stamp of approval on it? That, or hope to get one of the rare spots available for the clinical tests? If the only alternative is the eventual onset of blindness, kidney failure, limb amputation, or heart failure, shouldn't a patient have the power to opt for a treatment without waiting for the final blessing of the FDA? Particularly when said treatment is already in use as a vaccine. It's noted that BCG is not without its own risks, especially for those with HIV or other autoimmune diseases.