WEEKEND. DO: 5 ON YOUR HEALTH AND NEW THIS MORNING, A SIGN OF HOPE FOR THE 1.5 MILLION AMERICANS LIVING WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES A POSSIBLE CU.RE JENNIFER: FOR ONE MAN, IT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED AND THE RESEARCH WAS DONE RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON. BRIASHN ELTON SAYS TYPE 1 DIABETES RULED HIS LIFE. WHEN HIS BLOOD SUGAR DROPPED HE WOULD SOMETIMES LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS WITHOUT WARNING. EARLIER THIS YEAR, SHELTON ENROLLED IN A CLINICAL TRIAL THROUGH VERTEX PHARMACEUTICA. IN JUNE, HE GOT AN INFUSION OF CELLS, GROWN FROM STEM CELLS JUST LIKE THE INSULIN-PRODUCING PANCREAS CELLS HIS BODY LACK.ED TODAY, HIS BODY AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLS ITS INSULIN AND BLOOD SUGALER .VE >> I FEEL LIKE I GOT RELEASED FROM HANDCUFFS. I’M NOT SITTING HERE LIKE ERWHE’S MY ORANGE JUICE, MY LLPIS. I DON’T NEED THEM. >> BRIAN’S RESULTS ARE NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE. WE HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN GLUCOSE CONTROL, HIS NEED FOR INSULIN, HIS ABITYOLI MAKE INSULIN ON HIS OWN BECAUSE THESE CELLS ARE THERE. JENNIFER: BRIAN MAY BE THE FIRST PE
Type 1 diabetes cure? Man credits Boston company’s study for new lease on life
Updated: 9:15 AM EST Dec 6, 2021
A sign of hope for the 1.5 million Americans living with Type 1 diabetes — a possible cure may be on the horizon. For one man, it seems to have worked, and the research was done in Boston. Brian Shelton, of Elyria, Ohio, said Type 1 diabetes ruled his life.When his blood sugar dropped, he would sometimes lose consciousness without warning.Earlier this year, Shelton enrolled in a clinical trial through Vertex Pharmaceuticals.In June, he received an infusion of cells, grown from stem cells just like the insulin-producing pancreas cells his body lacked.Today, his body automatically controls its insulin and blood sugar levels.”I feel like I got released from handcuffs,” Shelton said. “I’m not sitting here like, ‘where’s my orange juice? Where’s my pills? Where’s my shot?’ you know, it’s like I don’t need them.” Shelton may be the first person cured of the disease with this treatment. “Brian’s results are nothing short of remarkable,” said Felicia Pagliuca, of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. “We’ve seen improvements in his glucose control, improvements in his need for insulin, improvements in his ability to make insulin on his own in his body because those cells are there.”The study is continuing and will take five years, and involve 17 people with severe cases of Type 1 diabetes.
BOSTON —
A sign of hope for the 1.5 million Americans living with Type 1 diabetes — a possible cure may be on the horizon.
For one man, it seems to have worked, and the research was done in Boston.
Brian Shelton, of Elyria, Ohio, said Type 1 diabetes ruled his life.
When his blood sugar dropped, he would sometimes lose consciousness without warning.
Earlier this year, Shelton enrolled in a clinical trial through Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
In June, he received an infusion of cells, grown from stem cells just like the insulin-producing pancreas cells his body lacked.
Today, his body automatically controls its insulin and blood sugar levels.
“I feel like I got released from handcuffs,” Shelton said. “I’m not sitting here like, ‘where’s my orange juice? Where’s my pills? Where’s my shot?’ you know, it’s like I don’t need them.”
Shelton may be the first person cured of the disease with this treatment.
“Brian’s results are nothing short of remarkable,” said Felicia Pagliuca, of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. “We’ve seen improvements in his glucose control, improvements in his need for insulin, improvements in his ability to make insulin on his own in his body because those cells are there.”
The study is continuing and will take five years, and involve 17 people with severe cases of Type 1 diabetes.