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Defeat Diabetes Foundation

Defeat Diabetes
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Oral Drug Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes

Posted: Wednesday, January 10, 2007

A new kind of type 1 diabetes, called monogenetic diabetes can be treated with the oral drugs, sulfonylureas.

Recently, researchers have discovered a new, genetic form of the disease that was previously diagnosed as type 1 diabetes. This form of the disease -- known as monogenetic diabetes -- can be treated without insulin. Instead, patients are given a pill from the class of drugs called sulfonylureas. These drugs increase the amount of potassium in the pancreas cells, so patients can produce insulin on their own. They directly affect the mutant protein that allows potassium to flow out of the cells. The drugs are long lasting, so patients only need to take them twice a day instead of being hooked up to an insulin pump or giving themselves injections. Experts say taking a pill instead of insulin is advantageous because many patients on insulin have blood sugar highs and lows throughout the day that are unmanageable. It's also easier, less painful, and a big money-saver. Louis Philipson, M.D., from the University of Chicago, says: "The benefits are remarkable. It comes down to not checking 12 times a day. People do not realize it, but that is almost $12 a day in terms of supplies and blood testing, so multiply that by 365!" He adds, "It really is life-changing. It's hard to imagine anything more profound than to take a child who is being tested 10 to 12 times a day or someone who may be 18 or 19 years old and to convert them from insulin to pills."

Who has this genetic form? Doctors believe the gene is a type of birth defect. So far, all the cases of this genetic diabetes are patients who were diagnosed before six months of age. Doctors believe diabetes diagnosed after six months has other causes, but more research is needed. They estimate between 400 and 2,000 patients in the United States could have this type of diabetes. So far, fewer than 10 patients have been identified in this country, but more than 150 have been identified in Europe. If a patient was diagnosed before six months of age, a simple genetic test is given to verify he/she has this form of the disease. Once the results confirm the diagnosis, doctors can help the patient stop their insulin therapy and start taking the drugs.

Source: Diabetes In Control: University of Chicago Medical Center