New treatment for diabetes
Добавлено: 15.09.2008, 10:46
The life of an Angus woman has been transformed thanks to a groundbreaking new treatment for her diabetes.
Niona MacDougall, 33, from Carnoustie, has been insulin-dependent for all but 12 weeks of her life after being diagnosed with diabetes as a baby.
She is now treated with tablets however, rather than daily insulin injections, after it was discovered her diabetes is a rare genetic form.
The genetic defect was discovered by researchers at Dundee University in 2004. It can be effectively controlled by sulphonylurea tablets, removing the need for insulin injections. In almost all cases the treatment offers better control of blood sugar levels.
The treatment only works for patients who were diagnosed with diabetes when they were infants however, usually younger than six months, and have genetic diabetes.
It does not work for the vast majority of diabetes sufferers, those who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Now people all over the UK could benefit from a similar treatment.
“Life now is easier, more comfortable and just generally happier,” Miss MacDougall said.
“I just generally feel a lot better and my diabetes is under much better control now.
Since coming off insulin I’ve also lost over a stone in weight, which is great.”
Jayne Cameron, a diabetes specialist nurse with NHS Tayside, has known Miss MacDougall since 2002 and has seen the difference the new treatment has made.
“When I first met Niona she struggled to control her diabetes,” she said.
“She had frequent low blood sugars and it was a constant battle for her to balance her diabetes and her weight. As the tablets were increased and the insulin was reduced, she just got happier and happier.”
The gene fault was identified by Dr Ewan Pearson, of the university’s biomedical research institute.
He is also a consultant physician at Ninewells Hospital.
“I am sure there are other people in Scotland and the rest of the UK who, like Niona, have diabetes that developed at a very young age,” he said.
“Whatever their current age, anyone diagnosed with diabetes under the age of one should speak to their diabetes team to discuss having a simple genetic test as it might be possible to treat their diabetes differently.”
Dr Pearson stressed that while the treatment did not work for patients with the far more common Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, it did show that scientists were making strides in gaining a greater understanding of the disease.
Niona MacDougall, 33, from Carnoustie, has been insulin-dependent for all but 12 weeks of her life after being diagnosed with diabetes as a baby.
She is now treated with tablets however, rather than daily insulin injections, after it was discovered her diabetes is a rare genetic form.
The genetic defect was discovered by researchers at Dundee University in 2004. It can be effectively controlled by sulphonylurea tablets, removing the need for insulin injections. In almost all cases the treatment offers better control of blood sugar levels.
The treatment only works for patients who were diagnosed with diabetes when they were infants however, usually younger than six months, and have genetic diabetes.
It does not work for the vast majority of diabetes sufferers, those who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Now people all over the UK could benefit from a similar treatment.
“Life now is easier, more comfortable and just generally happier,” Miss MacDougall said.
“I just generally feel a lot better and my diabetes is under much better control now.
Since coming off insulin I’ve also lost over a stone in weight, which is great.”
Jayne Cameron, a diabetes specialist nurse with NHS Tayside, has known Miss MacDougall since 2002 and has seen the difference the new treatment has made.
“When I first met Niona she struggled to control her diabetes,” she said.
“She had frequent low blood sugars and it was a constant battle for her to balance her diabetes and her weight. As the tablets were increased and the insulin was reduced, she just got happier and happier.”
The gene fault was identified by Dr Ewan Pearson, of the university’s biomedical research institute.
He is also a consultant physician at Ninewells Hospital.
“I am sure there are other people in Scotland and the rest of the UK who, like Niona, have diabetes that developed at a very young age,” he said.
“Whatever their current age, anyone diagnosed with diabetes under the age of one should speak to their diabetes team to discuss having a simple genetic test as it might be possible to treat their diabetes differently.”
Dr Pearson stressed that while the treatment did not work for patients with the far more common Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, it did show that scientists were making strides in gaining a greater understanding of the disease.