We don’t write much about type 1 diabetes because in comparison to type 2 diabetes, it’s much more difficult to handle and, well, it’s for life. However, there are some things happening in the science world that may slow down type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body itself. The cells in the pancreas that control the production of insulin are killed by the immune system. So, it’s obvious that the solution to this would be to reprogram the immune system to stop the systematic destructions of these cells.
This is when immunotherapy comes in, but what is immunotherapy? It’s a treatment of a disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response.
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A trial has taken place to retrain the immune system and slow down the progression of type 1 diabetes. The therapy, which was tested in 27 people in the United Kingdom, showed signs of slowing the disease, but confirmation is required in larger trials.
This trial for immunotherapy consists of exposing T cells—the cells that destroy the beta cells, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas—to fragments of proteins in beta cells. This, in theory, would cause the reaction of the T cells to the beta cells to lessen over time.
More research and larger clinical trials are required for this immunotherapy to be available for all type 1 diabetes patients, but it seems to be a promising one.
