The Future of Diabetes Treatment

Now here is an interesting item, to some it may be too radical but nonetheless it is quite fascinating.

From an artificial pancreas to stem cell therapy, better diabetes treatments and a possible cure are in the research and development pipeline.

It's estimated that almost 24 million Americans have diabetes, a disease in which your body doesn't use insulin properly or doesn't produce enough of this hormone. Insulin is the substance that converts sugar into the energy needed to power your body. Researchers aren't entirely sure what causes diabetes, although they do know that being overweight, a lack of exercise, and genetic predisposition all contribute to the condition.


Diabetes treatment varies depending on the type and severity of disease, but there is no cure short of a pancreas transplant, which can lead to a variety of serious complications and risks. However, there's a great deal of research under way for a better diabetes treatment or cure. 

Future Diabetes Treatment: Artificial Pancreas
A California-based medical device company, Medtronic, has combined a glucose monitoring system with an insulin delivery pump to create an automatic insulin delivery system for diabetes treatment, one that works like your natural pancreas.
The device, which would be worn externally, monitors your blood glucose level and stops insulin delivery if your blood glucose level becomes too low. One of the most important features is that it protects you from developing type 1 diabetes when they used a gene that prompted liver cells to produce insulin as part of a gene therapy diabetes treatment. The mice responded to the treatment within one week, with blood glucose levels dropping to normal and staying that way for the rest of their lives. 

While the liver cells worked, the scientists discovered that they could only make insulin for about six weeks. However, they also found out that other cells that came from stem cells emerged during the process. These cells were able to make much more insulin. The researchers now believe they can cause normal adult stem cells to become pancreatic cells that would make insulin in the normal way. A great deal of work is needed before this stem cell therapy is ready for humans, but the breakthroughs are encouraging. 

For the next blog I will be moving away from Diabetes but the topic will always be on healthy food.

It is essential to get a good start to the day and there is nothing better than an egg to get you going. We used to have an advert in England which said 'Go to Work on an Egg'

These diabetic egg recipes are perfect for a family breakfast treat and great for a brunch party.

Mini Breakfast Quiches - Diabetic Egg Recipes

Servings: 12
Recipe Ingredients:
4 oz diced green chilies
2 oz diced pimentos, drained
3 cups precooked white rice
2 egg substitute equivalents
1/3 cup skim milk
1/2 tsp cumin
1 dash salt and pepper
1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese Recipe Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chilies, pimentos, rice, eggs, milk, cumin, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup of the cheese.


2. Spoon mixture evenly into muffin cups and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until set. 
Carefully remove the quiches from the pan, arrange on a platter and serve. 

Exchanges: Starch/Bread Exchange -- 1
Calories -- 88 Calories from Fat -- 16 Total Fat -- 2g Saturated Fat -- 1g Cholesterol -- 7mg Sodium -- 98mg Carbohydrate -- 13g Dietary Fiber -- 0g Sugars -- 1g Protein -- 5g 

Look out for my next blog which will be a slightly different theme and don't forget if you wish to receive my Recipe Newsletter then you can subscribe by going to garthtuxford@gmail.com 


Have a really great day and don't forget to look after yourselves.


Garth