Diabetes Vaccine Developed For Children

Filed in archive Research on December 20, 2006

Developments in diabetes research and treatments never fail to be amazing. Now, researchers feel hopeful that a ''diabetes vaccine' may be able to prevent juvenile diabetes. Is it possible that diabetes may soon be as easy to abolish as measles or the mumps?

The trial will use insulin administered with a nasal spray to children and young adults who are genetically predisposed to developing Type 1 diabetes.

If successful, researchers believe it could offer thousands of children protection from the disease, and the opportunity to avoid a life of constant blood-sugar monitoring, insulin injections and a regimented diet.

As part of the four-year program, young people will self-administer the intranasal spray every day for one week, and then once a week for a year, while receiving regular health checks to determine if the onset of diabetes has been delayed or prevented.

Truly fascinating. I can't wait to see how this turns out. Would you feel comfortable letting your child participate in this study?