In an amazing study done by Dr. Michael Demetriou at the University of California Irvine, a glucosamine like dietary supplement has suppressed the damaging autoimmune response that causes Type 1 Diabetes in a mouse model. The study delves deeper into how sugars such as the N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) used in the study, interact with the surface of T-Cells. It is believed that changes to these sugars on the surface of T-Cells give rise to autoimmune disease, such as Type-1 Diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis. Here is the complete story- Glucosamine-Like Supplement Inhibits Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 Diabetes.

Studies such as this one simply amaze me because they are so ground breaking and yet there is no press for such studies. I am going to keep a very close eye on any more developments in this area of research because it is so important to find a way to heal the misguided T-Cells that cause Type 1 Diabetes that attack the insulin producing cells of the pancreas. One of the most promising areas of research for a cure, in my opinion, is in first treating the core of the disease- misguided T-Cells and then allowing the islet cells to heal themselves. One of my favorite Diabetes researchers, and one who is closest to having a cure is Denise Faustman at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research into Islet Regeneration demonstrates that once you can retrain T-Cells to stop the autoimmune response that causes Type 1 Diabetes in the first place, then you can allow the islet cells to naturally regenerate. The mechanism for regeneration is still under study, but it is thought to be related to stem cells coming from the spleen. Now Denise Faustman is busy trying to get her clinical trials underway, which should start in the fall of 2008 if us Diabetics are lucky.