It was dubbed a cure for type 1 diabetes. Now, six years after insulin-producing cells were first transplanted into people with diabetes, results from the largest trial yet of the “Edmonton protocol” are in.
While these islet cell transplants dramatically improved blood sugar control in the short term, all but five of the 36 recipients needed additional insulin shots within two years.
Nonetheless, most retained at least some islet function, protecting them against so-called “hypoglycaemic unawareness”, in which people cannot recognise the early signs of low blood sugar.
The researchers are now working on ways to make the treatment last longer. “If we get improved early survival, we’re likely to get much better long-term outcome,” says James Shapiro at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.
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Journal reference: New England Journal of Medicine (vol 355, p 1318)
