A small, early study holds promise that there is a vaccine for type 1 diabetes that could help preserve the natural production of insulin in the body.
Patients that suffer from type 1 diabetes experience the body immune system attacking the beta cells that lie in the pancreas that produce insulin, the hormone necessary for cells to absorb glucose directly from the bloodstream.
Typically, these patients require insulin injections for the duration of their lives.
With so many factors affecting how much insulin per a day a person needs, those that are insulin-dependent often report high and low blood sugar.
Breaking Down Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia
Low blood sugar, also referred to as hypoglycemia, is a form of diabetes that can cause seizures or death in the short-term, while hyperglycemia, high blood sugar, can damage the organs over extended periods of time.
Current research studies are testing whether a vaccine has the ability to stop or slow the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells.
Studies have already shown how beneficial even a small production of insulin is for overall patient health.
Those with diabetes who produce a certain amount of insulin naturally are not likely to develop hypoglycemia as easily.
Research Findings Reveal New Information
Participants were divided into two groups, where one half received three shots of the vaccine into their lymph nodes while the other half were administered placebos.
Natural insulin production, changes to long-term blood sugar levels, and the amount of supplementary insulin needed daily were taken into account, and the findings demonstrate that treatment with GAD-alum holds promise for those that have the right types of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes.
The insightful data released from the study has now led to researchers looking to carry out larger studies in order to find a drug that can alter the progress of type 1 diabetes.
