ISLET

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or Type-1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of the insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas. T1D is difficult to control with the current therapies available, and as a result patients may suffer devastating consequences including accelerated cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, oral diseases and premature death. The incidence of T1D appears to be increasing worldwide. Islet transplantation as a therapy for T1D has been an important focus of governmental funding, and significant research progress has occurred in recent years. Islet transplantation is a procedure performed on select patients with Type-1 diabetes to replace insulin-producing cells destroyed by the disease and restore normal blood sugar levels. In particular, the success of the "Edmonton Protocol" for islet transplantation in freeing individuals with T1D from the need for insulin therapy has..

Primary location: Iowa City United States