Researchers in Singapore recently developed pure insulin producing cells in mice that may lead to the administration of insulin cells to assist diabetic patients who currently must regulate blood glucose levels manually and inject insulin as needed.
A recent news report from Science Daily told of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have been used to create pure insulin-producing cells for diabetics by Singapore scientists.
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The cells have been produced to provide diabetic patients with pure insulin producing cells in order for blood glucose levels of diabetics to be regulated naturally. The researchers, from the Institute of Medical Biology (IMB), are still experimenting with use on mice and have not achieved a level of safeness for use on humans yet, but have noted that "none of the diabetic mice involved in the transplant developed teratoma, which are a type of tumor associated with ESCs," according to the news report. The study was published in a recent issue of Stem Cell Research.
Developing Diabetes
According to MedicineNet, which is an online healthcare site utilizing information and resources from the authors of Webster’s New World Medical Dictionary, describe diabetes mellitus as a "group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar levels, that result from defects in insulin secretion or action, or both." Approximately 23.6 million Americans currently suffer from some form of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The New York Times also reported that diabetes was currently the fifth leading killer of U.S. citizens.
Diabetes can affect anyone, but there are several risk factors that may increase an individuals potential for developing a type of diabetes. The following risk factors were reported by the National Library of Medicine (NLM):
* 45 years of age and over
* ( genetic predisposition, family members with diabetes
* heart disease
* high blood cholesterol
* obesity
* gestational diabetes, when a baby weighing more than 9 pounds is delivered
* lack of exercise
* ethnicity
* previously impaired glucose tolerance
* polycystic ovary disease
What is Insulin?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that there are 20 different types of insulin products produced within the body that are "available in four basic forms, each with a different time of onset and duration of action."
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Insulin is produced when an individual consumes food that is then broken down into glucose within the pancreas and enters the bloodstream to provide the body with energy. Within the pancreas is the islets of Langerhans, which houses the beta cells that are responsible for producing insulin.
Diabetic patients are known to either produce a surplus or not enough insulin or both, type 2 diabetes patients produce varied amounts and type 1 diabetics don't produce enough. Those who use injectable forms of insulin to regulate their blood glucose levels often use insulin derived from animals such as pigs or cows. There are, however, additional diabetes drugs that do not use insulin from an outside form, but rather, utilize the body's natural levels of insulin.
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Byetta is one such drug, which is part of a new class of drugs known as incretin mimetics that are injected to "mimic the effects of naturally occurring hormones from the intestines and can help the body" develop more insulin, according to Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals - the manufacturers of Byetta.
Prescription Drug Dangers
There are several varieties of type 2 diabetes medications that are available, however, several of the newer prescription drugs have also been linked to severe side effects among patients. For example, Avandia has been linked to the development of heart disease and bone fractures among patients.
Byetta (exenatide) is also one such drug that has been associated with serious side effects including the development of acute pancreatitis and inflammation of the pancreas among patients. Byetta patients who feel they may suffer from Byetta side effects are encouraged to locate a pharmaceutical lawyer to discuss their class action lawsuit.
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