Delaying Type 1 Diabetes with Medication. New advances in Medical Science for Diabetes. This is Good News for people with Diabetes and those at high risk for developing it!
An encouraging diabetes study was led by an international collaboration focused on preventing type 1 diabetes called Type 1 Diabetes TrailNet. It has been supported by the U.S. NIH and published in The New England Journal. The study has revealed the efficacy of a drug to significantly delay the onset and progression of Type 1 Diabetes in people at high risk for it.
Delaying Type 1 Diabetes Medication
This study used an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody called Teplizumab. It targets the immune system’s T cells so that they do not mistakenly destroy the body’s insulin-producing beta cells—the reason why type 1 diabetes develops.
A total of sixty-six people were selected, ranging in age from as young as 8 to as old as 49. All were relatives of people with type 1 diabetes and had related autoantibodies and abnormal glucose tolerance. The study consisted of randomly assigning a treatment group. One group was given the drug Teplizumab was administered. The other group got the placebo.
Diabetes Clinical Trial Results
When the most awaited moment of any study or clinical trial arrived. When one could finally begin to analyze all the data and information, the results showed surprising and encouraging results. While in the control group (the group of people who did not take Teplizumab), the percentage of those who developed clinical Diabetes reached 72%. In the group that was treated with the dose of Teplizumab, this percentage was only 43%.
“The difference in outcomes was striking. This discovery is the first evidence we’ve seen that clinical type 1 diabetes can be delayed with early preventive treatment.”
Dr. Lisa Spain from NIDDK
Concerning the degree of progression of Diabetes in the two groups, the clinical study found that in the control group (placebo), it took 24 months to diagnose those with Diabetes in the group. The group that was treated with this hopeful drug reached an average time of 48 months before diagnosis.
Important for Future Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
Dr. Lisa Spain of NIDDK, sponsor of TrialNet, summarized the results in encouraging words: “The results have important implications for people, particularly youth, who have relatives with the disease, as these individuals may be at high risk and benefit from early screening and treatment.”
The study was intended to see if early intervention of this drug would have a benefit in people who were genetically predisposed to develop type 1 diabetes. It can be said that the results showed that the drug was very promising. But as Dr. Spain herself mentioned: “While the results are encouraging, more research needs to be done to address the trial’s limitations. As well as fully understanding the mechanisms of action, long-term efficacy, and treatment safety.“
The research team also stressed that as encouraging as the results were, significant future research is needed. This first study had several limitations to be taken into account, such as the small number of participants, the lack of ethnic diversity, and the fact that all of them were family members of people with Type 1 Diabetes. This undoubtedly reduces the ability to interpret the study more broadly.
There are things you can do to stay healthy and reduce the probability of being diagnosed with Diabetes. For example, you can eat nutritious, such as vegan spaghetti with avocado. There are plenty of healthy recipes to choose from. Getting a good night’s sleep is also essential. Ensure that you create a schedule to stick to.