Could this finally be the cure?

Read this story of a diabetic woman in Australia. She signed up for an experimental treatment where islet cells from a donor pancreas were injected into her liver.

She used to have daily hypoglycemic attacks but now only needs a tiny dose of insulin each day. After her second treatment she hopes to be insulin-free.

Unfortunately, the treatment requires immuno-suppressant drugs. And few pancreases become available each year. But researchers are trying to work around this. Let's hope they succeed:

One technique surrounds the cells with a membrane, making them invisible to the body's immune system and negating the need for immuno-suppressant drugs. Other researchers were looking for new sources of islet cells, either by "reprogramming" similar cells from elsewhere in the body such as the gut, or even taking cells from the pancreas of a pig.

Embryonic stem cells could also be useful. Last month, scientists in the US managed for the first time to turn stem cells into insulin producers that responded to blood glucose levels.

50 Secrets of the Longest Living People with Diabetes

Below is my Amazon review of 50 Secrets of the Longest Living People with Diabetes:

As the mother of two young daughters with type 1 diabetes, I've read a lot of websites and books with highly technical medical information about diabetes.

It was refreshing to sit down and read a book full of stories. When is the last time you read a book about diabetes that was actually hard to put down? This is a book like that.

One can't help but be encouraged by stories like those of the two brothers, ages 87 and 91, who have had diabetes since early childhood. Both have avoided major complications even though they lived most of their lives in the "dark ages" (pre-glucometers). The 87-year-old brother often rides his bike 20 miles at a time. The book is full of stories like these.

Interspersed between the stories of these inspiring diabetic people are the 50 secrets. I'll list ten of them here:

1. Live first and be diabetic second.
2. Control your problems before they control you.
3. Consider being a grazer.
4. Always carry a toothbrush.
5. Erase your mistakes with exercise.
6. Love (and hate) your pump.
7. Involve your family and friends.
8. Have kids if you want to.
9. Understand possible diabetes complications.
10. Respect the power of diabetes.

The 50 secrets aren't earth-shaking but there is commentary from these diabetics on all of the secrets and it is motivating and encouraging. The advice is very, very practical.

The authors don't shy away from the grim statistics: "Just by having diabetes, you already have twice the risk of dying young as someone who is diabetes-free." Some of the 50 people in the book share stories about scary hypoglycemic episodes while driving. The authors make it clear that facing the reality of possible complications is much better than denial.

There is some information about type 2 diabetes in the book too. Overall, the book is easy to read and I think every teen and twentysomething with diabetes should read it. Parents of diabetics should read it too. It will wake you up a little and also encourage you.

Humalog vs. Novolog: A Rant Against Big Pharma

I've written before about insulin edema. Since then we've learned that my daughter's edema was caused by the Humalog insulin. Her edema went away after switching her to Novolog. She went back on Humalog for a few days and the edema returned immediately.

Our pharmacist explained that the amino acid configuration in these two rapid acting insulins is different and in rare cases some patients experience edema on Humalog.

Our insurance company prefers Humalog because they get rebates from Lilly when a patient purchases Humalog. The first time I purchased Novolog I had to pay an expensive 50 percent co-pay.

Her doctor filed a prior-authorization form, the pharmacist made phone calls on our behalf to the insurance company, and I made several phone calls too. It was very aggravating. Why can't the insurance company assume that the doctor prescribed the insulin for a very good reason and honor that with the regular co-pay?

Because they make less money on the insulin that is the most helpful to my daughter. Money is more important than the patient's best interest, it seems.

The insurance company has approved the Novolog for six months, after which the doctor will have to fill out yet another form.

I've noticed that several people have visited this blog by typing "insulin edema" into google. If your child has edema, try Novolog. And good luck dealing with the insurance company.

Alzheimer's: Type 3 Diabetes?

Some scientists at Northwestern University recently discovered that the memory problems associated with Alzheimer's disease are due to an insulin shortage.

The brain makes its own insulin. Insulin helps the brain make and store memories. The brains of Alzheimer patients have an abundance of toxic proteins (ADDLs) that block the insulin receptors in the brain.

"Alzheimer's disease is a complication of diabetes, not a unique form of the disease," says Dr. Sue Kirkman, vice president of clinical affairs for the American Diabetes Association. "Nevertheless," she says, "this is primarily a semantic argument."

Omega 3 Might Help Prevent Type 1 Diabetes

This was reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, so there's probably some validity to it.

Researcher Jill Norris studied 1770 children who were at high risk for developing type 1 diabetes (because of genetic testing or because they had a close relatives with diabetes).

From 1994-2006 she took surveys about their dietary intake and tested their blood for islet cell antibodies every year.

The researchers discovered that the at-risk children who ate a lot of foods rich in omega-3 were 55 percent less likely to have pancreatic islet autoimmunity.

"This is the first study to show this," Norris said. "This is all omega-3 fatty acids, not just the kind that are found in fish. It is certainly not time to make any recommendations until we can see this in other populations," but added that it is a very promising result.

I guess it's time to bring on the fish, flaxseed oil, walnuts and soybeans and see if I can get my non-diabetic daughters to get more Omega-3 in their diet. And try not to feel guilty that my diabetic daughters didn't get more.

50 Secrets of the Longest Living People With Diabetes

Here's a book I will read when it is released next month: 50 Secrets of the Longest Living People with Diabetes.

According to Diabetes Health, one of the trailblazing diabetics featured in the book is James William Quander, an African-American man who had juvenile diabetes for 80 years. When he was diagnosed in 1924, at age five, he wasn't expected to live more than a few years, even though insulin arrived on the scene in 1921. There weren't many specialists available to treat diabetic patients but his parents found an African-American doctor that was able to treat him.

In addition to the segregation he faced as an African-American he had to deal with the fears of his peers that diabetes was contagious. Only beginning in the 1970's did he feel comfortable coming out of the "diabetic closet" and letting outsiders know he had diabetes.

"He always maintained the hope that diabetes would be cured in his lifetime. In his later years, when it was apparent that a cure was unlikely for him, he put his energy into managing his blood sugars and teaching others to do the same."

Insulin Edema

Here's one of those little known juvenile diabetes symptoms: insulin edema.

In rare cases a patient will develop edema after starting to take insulin. Puffy feet, swollen legs and bloating in the abdomen can occur. This is due to insulin's ability to retain sodium and water. Hair loss is a symptom too.

My daughter was diagnosed with diabetes a month ago and developed edema almost immediately. She still has it and started using an over the counter diuretic a couple of days ago.

From what her endo says as well as the information I read at Ask The Diabetes Team this resolves on its own and a diuretic can help speed the process. Switching insulin brands can help too.

I really hope it resolves on its own. Dealing with a new diagnosis of diabetes is enough to deal with without adding this (shoes that no longer fit, etc.) to it.