Published June 3, 2011
Closing in on a type-1 diabetes cure
We just celebrated Memorial Day, a time to honor those who have fallen in battle. Like most people, I despise war in all its forms. My heart goes out to those sent to fight and risk their lives, and for those innocents caught in the mayhem. But for all the horrors of war, sometimes it is the mother of invention in medicine. And the terrible injuries of one airman might pave the way for a cure for diabetes in our lifetime.
Tre Profirio went to Afghanistan as a U.S. airman. He returned to the U.S. with bullet-destroyed pancreas. Doctors had to remove what was left of his pancreas. They sent the tissues to a university where, with gentle heat and enzymes, the doctors harvested insulin-producing islet cells. Then they infused these precious cells into his liver where they found a welcoming home. The cells quickly resumed their function, producing insulin with perfect blood sugar control. Of course, they had to take steps to protect the cells from too much stress while they got used to their new home. But his success made international news.
Read More