AACE: Islet Cell Transplants for Type 1 Diabetes Promising
Individuals with type 1 diabetes who undergo islet cell transplant have near-normalization of metabolic control and fewer episodes of hypoglycemia, according to research presented this week at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 17th Annual Meeting & Clinical Congress held in Orlando, Fla.
FRIDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with type 1 diabetes who undergo islet cell transplant have near-normalization of metabolic control and fewer episodes of hypoglycemia, according to research presented this week at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 17th Annual Meeting & Clinical Congress held in Orlando, Fla.
Lisa Gorn, of the University of Miami, and colleagues used a continuous glucose monitoring system to evaluate glycemic control in 25 subjects with type 1 diabetes, 12 of whom underwent islet cell transplant and 13 who served as controls. Mean interstitial glucose levels, glucose variability, percent time in hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia and normoglycemia were measured in 72-hour periods at three-month intervals up to 18 months following islet cell transplant.
The researchers found that mean interstitial glucose levels and glucose variability were all significantly lower in the islet transplant group, with the exception of two time points (three months and 15 months). In addition, islet cell transplant recipients spent significantly less time in hypoglycemia at all time points, and more time in normoglycemia at all except one time point (15 months).
"Our findings suggest that the majority of patients with type 1 diabetes who have received an islet transplant benefit from near-normal metabolic control, with fewer and shorter episodes of hypoglycemia," commented Gorn.
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