Islet Cell Transplants: Stepping Stones for Curing Type One Diabetes

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Islet cell transplants are minimally invasive procedures that usually attempt to provide severely hypoglycemic type one diabetics with long term insulin independence. The traditional process involves the extraction and purification of insulin-producing cells from a donor pancreas and their injection into the hepatic portal vein. If all goes well, the islet cells will thrive, reproduce, and deceive the liver into producing insulin.  But although a recent studies at Northwestern Medicine hold promising results for hypoglycemic type one diabetics, researchers are still trying to find other alternatives to whole pancreas transplants for all type one diabetics. Some scientists have experimented with spider silk as a support structure for in vitro cell purification. Other research teams have tried to treat stem cells with chemotherapy and inject them back into the donor to reproduce healthy cells. And finally, some have even looked at the adrenal gland as a possible alternative to a possible receiver of islet cells instead of the liver. Nevertheless, this recent and noninvasive technique is giving hope for all those affected by type one diabetics across the globe.