Diabetes breakthrough

Submitted by Bill St. Clair on Sun, 17 Dec 2006 11:27:56 GMT  <== Science/Technology ==> 

Tom Blackwell at National Post - Toronto scientists have cured diabetes in mice by injecting a substance that masks pain receptors in the pancreas. No telling yet whether this will work on humans, but hopefully it will. [slashdot]

In a discovery that has stunned even those behind it, scientists at a Toronto hospital say they have proof the body's nervous system helps trigger diabetes, opening the door to a potential near-cure of the disease that affects millions of Canadians.

Diabetic mice became healthy virtually overnight after researchers injected a substance to counteract the effect of malfunctioning pain neurons in the pancreas.

"I couldn't believe it," said Dr. Michael Salter, a pain expert at the Hospital for Sick Children and one of the scientists. "Mice with diabetes suddenly didn't have diabetes any more."

...

The islet inflammation cleared up and the diabetes was gone. Some have remained in that state for as long as four months, with just one injection.

Add comment Edit post Add post