In a small, early study, a vaccine for Type 1 diabetes helped preserve the body’s natural production of insulin, at least in a subset of newly diagnosed patients. In patients with Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone that’s necessary for cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. These patients need lifelong insulin injections to stay alive. And because so many hidden factors inside the body can affect how much insulin a person needs, people who are insulin-dependent often have high and low blood sugar. Read more.
