Research Reports Possible Diabetes Breakthrough

A scientific breakthrough on Type 1 diabetes could help pave the way to a cure or perhaps significantly reduce the need for insulin therapy.

Findings from a diabetes research may suggest new ways to treat Type 1 diabetes.

A researcher at UT Southwestern, Dr. Roger Unger, reports in the February issue of Diabetes that by shutting down glucagon, a hormone that causes blood sugar to spike in patients with Type 1 diabetes, he was able to restore glucose tolerance to a normal level in mice. Even large doses of glucose failed to derail the therapeutic effect of the glucagon approach.

"We've all been brought up to think insulin is the all-powerful hormone without which life is impossible, but that isn't the case," said Dr. Unger, professor of internal medicine. "If diabetes is defined as restoration of glucose homeostasis to normal, then this treatment can perhaps be considered very close