Rochester, N.Y. -- Promising new research suggests a possibility of a cure for diabetes.
Researchers at the University of Miami are in the midst of clinical trials that involve injecting patients with insulin-producing cells from donor organs. To receive the cell transplants, patients must be on anti-rejection drugs. In the second phase, doctors hope to create a mini-organ to replace a patient’s pancreas.
“It’s a treatment for diabetes now, but it will be a cure when we can do it without anti-rejection drugs,” Dr. Camillo Ricordi, of the Diabetes Research Institute told WPEC, 13WHAM News’ sister station.
It’s a treatment that has already been approved in Canada, Switzerland and England and could well be on its way to the United States if the research continues to progress.
A cure for diabetes would be comparable to waking up from a 14-year nightmare for Renee Williams.
“I’ve dreamed about it,” said the Honeoye Falls-Lima school administrator. She has learned to manage Type 1 diabetes with help from her doctor and family.
A true cure is likely 5-10 years away, according to Ricardi.
