Will we find a cure for type 1 diabetes
At the moment there is no cure for type 1 diabetes. The chronic condition can only by managed by constantly trying to keep blood glucose within a normal range. This is done by administering insulin and paying careful attention to things like diet and physical activity. Even when managed, type 1 diabetes reduces the average person's life by 20 years, and can often lead to serious complications, leaving many people hopeful that a cure is around the corner.
There's no simple answer to the question 'are we close to a type 1 diabetes cure' because the significant breakthrough that's needed could be around the corner, or it could be further down the road. All we know is that world-class research teams around the globe are following several paths, one of which will lead us to a cure.
However, there is a shortage of available pancreases and pancreatic beta cells meaning that it is unlikely it could ever work as a cure on a widespread basis (there are around 300,000 people in the UK alone with type 1 diabetes). The transplants that have taken place so far also require the patient to take a large amount of immunosuppressive drugs, just to protect the transplanted tissue.
Of course, this research can only be carried out if there is funding available for the highly trained scientists who do it. Criticism has been directed towards some governments, including the UK government, for not providing enough funding to combat type 1 diabetes.
But all of this research, whether to find a cure or to seek improved treatments, costs a lot of money. With governments cutting back on budgets, there is a real risk that the discovery of a cure for type 1 diabetes could be pushed back further. It may still be a question of 'when' we find the cure, but unless there is funding available the answer might have to change.
There's no simple answer to the question 'are we close to a type 1 diabetes cure' because the significant breakthrough that's needed could be around the corner, or it could be further down the road. All we know is that world-class research teams around the globe are following several paths, one of which will lead us to a cure.
However, there is a shortage of available pancreases and pancreatic beta cells meaning that it is unlikely it could ever work as a cure on a widespread basis (there are around 300,000 people in the UK alone with type 1 diabetes). The transplants that have taken place so far also require the patient to take a large amount of immunosuppressive drugs, just to protect the transplanted tissue.
Of course, this research can only be carried out if there is funding available for the highly trained scientists who do it. Criticism has been directed towards some governments, including the UK government, for not providing enough funding to combat type 1 diabetes.
But all of this research, whether to find a cure or to seek improved treatments, costs a lot of money. With governments cutting back on budgets, there is a real risk that the discovery of a cure for type 1 diabetes could be pushed back further. It may still be a question of 'when' we find the cure, but unless there is funding available the answer might have to change.
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