DIABETES COULD BECOME MORE MANAGEABLE WITH NEW BREAKTHROUGH

According to statistics from 2012, nearly 30 million Americans in the United States are living with some type of diabetes. That’s almost 10% of the entire population. More alarming is that diabetes is being diagnosed at higher rates at younger ages. Diabetes treatment over the years has simply been regulated to insulin injections and careful day-to-day planning for sufferers. In the last 10 years; however, there has been a surge in research and development that would find better, alternative ways of treating and even curing this disorder.

NEW BREAKTHROUGH IN RESEARCH – A PANCREAS IN A CAPSULE

One of the most trail-blazing methods realized for treating and curing diabetes just a few years ago was a pancreatic transplant. The Pancreas is responsible for producing and regulating insulin in the blood. Just like other organ transplants like heart or kidney, a donor is needed and surgery required to place the pancreas in the body. While some initial success was realized with this approach, there were too many insurmountable hurdles to overcome that would make this method practical for wider use. For instance, many patients would reject their transplant and even those whose body “accepted” it needed to take powerful immune suppressors for the rest of their lives so that the organ would not ultimately be rejected over time. A new approach was needed. The answer was found in stem-cell research.

Recently there has been an evolved approach to the idea of pancreatic transplants. The exciting thing is that this method doesn’t really involve a transplant at all, but the development of a pancreas inside of the body. It is being dubbed the “Pancreas in a Capsule”. Utilizing stem cells, unique cells that have the potential to grow into anything from muscle, bone, tissue, or organs, the Pancreatic Capsule is implanted in the body at the site of the dysfunctional pancreas. Already this device has been shown to produce insulin, glucagon, growth hormone, and has successfully regulated blood sugar in mice. Pending approval, trials in humans could begin in only a year. If successful, this new Pancreatic capsule could help those suffering from diabetes drastically reduce the amount and frequency of their insulin intake.

HOW PPG COULD HELP YOU TODAY

The Breakthroughs in medical science have huge implications for how we treat conditions like diabetes in our country. However, the best way to avoid developing much of these preventable conditions is through education and development of healthy, life-habits. At PPG we teach our patients that prevention, not simply treatment is of paramount importance. Talk to us today and see how a small change can make big difference in your own life.

Sources:

http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/535036/a-pancreas-in-a-capsule/

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/