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Which form of diabetes are you asking about? The 2 most common forms are very different, with different causes and likely very different eventual cures.

In the case of Type 2 diabetes, the most common form often related to obesity, a cure is not anywhere on the horizon. While some assume this is because the drugs used to treat the disease are a big money-maker (true) this is only one possible reason. The fact remains that Type 2 diabetes in MOST cases (90%) is a preventable illness that can and SHOULD be treated primarily with lifestyle changes. Pumping a Type 2 diabetic full of medications and not changing his diet or exercise habits is like telling a lung cancer patient to keep smoking and expect him to be cured.

The bottom line is that the most effect treatment and prevention for 90% of Type 2 diabetes cases is lifestyle change.

For the remaining 10% or so, there is much work being done looking into genetic insulin resistance and other forms of diabetes like MODY. Joslin is doing much research here.

As for Type 1 diabetes, the "severe" non-preventable form of diabetes that often first appears in childhod (it is NOT related to lifestyle), there is also much progress being made in recent months. Before, researchers thought they could "cure" Type 1 diabetes with a pancreas transplant. But now we know that Type 1 diabetes is not that simple. Most transplants fail soon after, and the person must take toxic drugs that may be worse for the body than having diabetes. Not to mention the shortage of donors.

So when research was focusing only on pancreas transplants, the "cure" for Type 1 diabetes was pretty dim. No one ever addressed a major problem why the transplants fail, which is the CAUSE of Type 1 diabetes, autoimmunity.

Now, researchers are looking at ways to stop the ongoing autoimmunity in Type 1 diabetes, with the hope of regenerating the body's OWN beta cells, or making a transplant more successful and worth the risk. Other researchers are looking at ways to encapsulate (cover) transplanted insulin making cells, to help protect them from both donor rejection and autoimmunity.

I predict that we will see a breakthrough for Type 1 diabetes in the near future. I wouldn't call it a "cure" unless we were to completely reverse the autoimmunity and/or regenerate islets (we are not there yet), but I DO think there will be a "cure treatment" which will restore normal blood sugar. I think encapsulated islets are on the horizon. Xeno (pig islets) will likely be used, as there are not enough donor cells. This way, more people can be helped, and right away. Stem cell research is still too far behind.

I suspect that within 5 years or less, encapsulated islets will be available to treat Type 1 diabetes. The autoimmunity part is trickier, although HUGE breakthroughs have been made recently. The autoimmunity and shortage of donor cells (for those who will not be able to regenerate once the autoimmunity is stopped) are what's holding back a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Other research is looking at a drug (AT-1001) that can actually prevent the trigger/one of the triggers for Type 1 diabetes from being absorbed into the body (research shows it may be absorbed through gaps in the small intestine). We do not know if it is a virus, a food protein (like gluten or casein), both, or neither. This drug closes these gaps, and may prevent Type 1 diabetes from occuring. It is currently in early stage trials.

amh says:

26 September, 2009 at 4:39 PM

Being diabetic puts you at higher risk for many things. The best thing you can do to avoid complications is follow your doctors orders, and keep your disease under good control. Diabetes is a progressive disease, so as you age, you still may get some type of complication, although it won't be near as dangerous or severe as it would be if your disease was not in control. Follow a good diet, take your medications as directed, and get some good daily exercise like walking for 30 to 45 min. each day. Such simple things can make such huge difference in our health. Visit your doctor every 3 ot 4 months for your normal maintenance testing. Sign up for some diabetic ed. classes and make a visit to a dietitan or nutritionist. Pay attention to your feet, watch for cuts and blisters and keep them clean and covered til they heal. With the medications we have today and all the new knowledge and treatments, a diabetic can live as long as a person that does not have diabetes.