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user070223 | 29 comments

syntheticnature|next|

The fact this worked on Type 1, which is an autoimmune disorder, is very interesting/surprising as a layman.

kgc|parent|next|

The patient was on immunosuppressants.

mlhpdx|root|parent|next|

This. I’m stupefied that they would include someone in immunosuppressants in such a study. It’s pointless since requiring them in a “cure” makes it largely worse than the disease (when well controlled).

Projectiboga|root|parent|next|

Hi type 1 here. Since our errant immunity is localized on the insulin producing beta cells being on immune supressants would still be better than being insulin deoendent. Type 1 diabetes is a wild condition, when my blood sugar drops, subsections of my brain switch off. Low sugars are very emotionally bleak. There is a whole set of post traumatic stressors as part of this. 35 years ago I could just walk into a pharmacy and buy insulin without a prescription, maybe the pharmacist might as a couple of questions to at least try and be sure I need it, and that insulin was maybe $30 cash with no insurance and that was enough for a month. So everything might be $70 for an entire month w 5 blood sugar tests per day. Now a months supplies is in the hundreds of dollars. This stuff doesn't involve much more to manufacture, just layers of beauracy and markups. So yes having to take a cheap pill or two every day with the worst case being a revertion to being insulin dependent is worthwhile. Now side effects of the immune drugs might maybe be worse, but I doubt that. And this is a pilot to get FDA approval to test genetically modified beta cells that a type 1 wont destroy. Thanks for any understanding and compassion you can bring to this discussion.

ainiriand|root|parent|next|

My wife has a closed-loop system here in Germany, that is a small pod she changes every 3 days with the insulin loaded into and a wireless monitoring device in the arm that syncs to the phone. She is way into 95% or more in range and she lives a normal life. I think immunodepressants would not be the solution for her.

jcims|root|parent|prev|next|

My youngest was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 14 and it has been a tremendous emotional and physical burden on her. It's so encouraging to see research in this area and the faintest glimmer of a hope for a hope that she'll find relief.

boltzmann-brain|root|parent|prev|next|

is it possible for a type 1 diabetic to not know and live their life fully untreated? By this I don't mean every type 1 diabetic, what I'm asking is whether it's possible for someone to be like this, due to their specific health circumstances.

TrackerFF|root|parent|next|

My in-law (brother) got what is called diabetes type "1.5", or LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults), at the ripe age of 40.

It is like type 1, but much, much slower progressing - hence why it shows up at adult age, compared to childhood. Unlike type 2, you can't keep it under control by lifestyle changes. My in-law is a physically fit person with a good diet, and has been his whole life.

In any case, after the onset of symptoms, he had to get treatment. No treatment leads to further organ damage, which eventually leads to death.


solveit|root|parent|prev|next|

I'm not quite sure how exactly to interpret your question, but untreated type 1 diabetes usually kills you within five years of diagnosis.

looperhacks|root|parent|prev|next|

It's not possible. Type 1 diabetes stops the production of insulin, which is generally required for survival.

drivebycomment|root|parent|prev|next|

From the article:

> Because the woman was already receiving immunosuppressants for a previous liver transplant,

This makes sense - this was the first trial, so doing this on a person already on immunosuppressants minimizes risk while still validating the basics of if it works at all in the first place.


heisenzombie|root|parent|prev|next|

I believe it’s already reasonably common to give a person Type 1 diabetes a pancreas transplant if they have another transplant and will therefore be taking immunosuppressants anyway.

It’s true that you wouldn’t do this unless they were already needed, say, a liver transplant.


bmau5|prev|next|

Amazing! Hopefully the effects are sustained over the long term and can be replicated.

The potential of the stem cell space is incredible. Another interesting development is patients "cured" of HIV following stem cell transplants to treat leukaemia - which has no direct clinical implications given the significant risk of stem cell transplant but does inspire hope for the future [1].

Edit: Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/25-07-2024-a-seventh-case-of-h...


wombatpm|parent|next|

I’m surprised more people didn’t try that route earlier. Step one in stem cell transplant for leukemia it to kill all existing immune cells. HIV hides in immune cells.

I think too many HIV patients were too compromised by opportunistic infections to ever be healthy enough for stem cell transplants


Projectiboga|root|parent|next|

Nowadays many hiv positive individuals are in better than average health. And a fluke for the ones diagnosed with AIDS they enjoy a slightly longer than average lufe expectancy. This is part a survivor bias, where only the fittest of tgat cohort survived. It is also due to their being eledgable for medicaid with double the income of anyone else.

cedric_h|parent|prev|next|

TFA claims the stem cells were administered into the abdominal muscles, which may reduce the "significant risk of stem cell transplant" compared to direct injection into the liver.

anon84873628|root|parent|next|

I'm curious why they don't transplant into the pancreas?

inglor_cz|root|parent|next|

Stem cells are pretty good at moving around. If they don't want to stay in the pancreas, you won't be able to make them, and if they want to go to the pancreas, they will find their way there even if transplanted in a less invasive way.

PakG1|prev|next|

I've been waiting for stem cell therapy to regrow my recessed gums. Every option for taking care of my recessed gums seem horrible and my gums are so far gone. Wish I'd have developed better habits for taking care of them when I was younger but oh well.

elric|parent|next|

> Wish I'd have developed better habits

That's always easier said than done, isn't it? I'm sure many of us wish they had taken better care of their bodies when they were younger, but sometimes life gets in the way, long term impacts are unclear, and we overestimate our ability to "fix it later".


fredrikholm|root|parent|next|

It's also important to not underestimate just how powerful lifestyle changes can be even in the face of (a lot of our potential) dire outcomes. Not sure about gums here specifically.

Reversing a condition once you have it is an order of magnitude more difficult to fix than to prevent, but if you're in luck and able to do so, every day now has the potential for taking a step in the right direction.

My favorite example of this is post-menopausal women regaining bone density, muscle mass, balance, mood etc. to rival women half their age in a matter of a few weeks (weight training). The same can be said for pre-diabetes, early T2, high blood pressure, addictions... the list goes on.

With regards to OP, I hope you find some relief somehow! I still have some baby teeth with very short roots; the second I get inflamed gums my pain level approaches levels were I can't function properly. What is the symptoms of receded gums?


elric|root|parent|next|

> It's also important to not underestimate just how powerful lifestyle changes can be

Agreed, what's that phrase, "The best time to start was 20 years ago, the second best time is now"?

But it's also important to be a little kind to yourself, don't be too harsh on yourself for the things you didn't do or could have done differently. You can't go back in time.


MaKey|parent|prev|next|

I had a transplant for my recessed gum and the results are great. Maybe that could be an option for you too.

WilTimSon|parent|prev|next|

Out of curiosity, what habits would you adopt? Flossing? Or is there something else doctors recommend? A cursory search seems to bring up rather regular dental hygiene.

inglor_cz|root|parent|next|

Not the OP, but on top of cleaning the gaps between teeth well, I started going to dental hygienist four times a year and the expense seems to be worth it.

Nowadays my gums just don't bleed ever, period, even when the hygienist is scrapping away calculus.


josvdwest|parent|prev|next|

Would love stem cells for gum recovery!

BuildWithMason|prev|next|

This is a fascinating development, especially for type 1 diabetes, where autoimmunity is such a challenge. Using the patient’s own reprogrammed cells to avoid immune rejection is promising.

blackeyeblitzar|prev|

Interesting that the stem reprogramming technique was invented 20 years ago. I wonder if all who contributed to this over the years will get their due rewards. I feel they won’t, which makes me sad. Amazing results and huge potential for diabetes but also other conditions.