Diabetes Research Institute and Anti-Rejection Drug Study

Last year I took my first visit to the Diabetes Research Institute. I have talked about it before, but after leaving there, I felt more confident that a cure was in the future, not near future, but in the future. I have also voiced my opinions about there never being a cure because of the financial reasons behind finding a cure. But today, I want to talk about another step in the right direction of that cure from the DRI. Please note, I am by no means a scientific kind of guy, nor do I play one on tv. When I talk about diabetes research and stem cells and this and that, I try to make it as simple as possible without big words because that’s the only way that I understand it.

If you want the scientific explanation, you can read the DRI’s press release.

When I visited the DRI facility in Miami, one of the main things that I learned about and thought was the most fascinating was the fact that our body rejects so much stuff and that even if you receive some sort of islet transplant, your body just wants to destroy it as soon as possible. That is where the immunosuppressive therapy comes into play. Basically, they are drugs that you take to keep your body from attacking the new transplant. These drugs also have some serious side effects and can cause some pretty big damages, such as kidney failure.

I remember the DRI researchers talking about how they are looking for better ways to keep the body from attacking it’s new transplant, without the intense drug therapy. In this recent study, the DRI shows that stem-cells can replace those anti-rejection drugs.

I don’t want to do the DRI and the Cure Alliance or you all any injustice, so I recommend that you read the press release from the DRI to learn more about the study and mesenchymal stem cells.

To me, the best part of this study is that it was performed on humans! Not mice, humans! The study was performed on people with end-stage renal disease. I love that mice are cured of diabetes, but I’d rather hear more about studies that are making headway in the fight against diabetes in humans. This is one of those studies.

I am privileged to have the Diabetes Research Institute right here in my backyard, well not literally my backyard, but that would be pretty damn cool. I strongly encourage anybody who visits the south Florida area to make a trip to the DRI. Heck, even if you’re going to Disney to Orlando, plan a day trip. It’s about a 4 hour drive from Disney, but it would be well worth it.

Also, if you do decide, let me know and we can schedule a D-Meetup.

Take care and keep the hope alive.