Fogbow

Brian Shelton may be the first person cured of Type 1 diabetes. Diabetes experts were astonished but urged caution.

Shelton was the first patient to receive an infusion of lab-grown cells that produce insulin. Now his body automatically controls its insulin and blood sugar levels. The study is continuing, but the results so far have given experts hope for the 1.5 million Americans living with the disease.

“It’s a whole new life,” Shelton said. “It’s like a miracle.”

Like patients who get pancreas transplants, Mr. Shelton has to take drugs that suppress his immune system. He says they cause him no side effects, and he finds them far less onerous or risky than constantly monitoring his blood sugar and taking insulin. He will have to continue taking them to prevent his body from rejecting the infused cells.

But Dr. John Buse, a diabetes expert at the University of North Carolina who has no connection to Vertex, said the immunosuppression gives him pause. “We need to carefully evaluate the trade-off between the burdens of diabetes and the potential complications from immunosuppressive medications.”

Azastan wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 8:42 am Too bad for the anti-vaxxers that the cure's been made with embryonic stem cells.

Lani wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 12:01 pm

Azastan wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 8:42 am Too bad for the anti-vaxxers that the cure's been made with embryonic stem cells.

They seem to be fine with tylenol, ibuprofen and monoclonal treatment.