Autoimmunity laboratory

Case Study

Diabetes

Traditionally this form of diabetes has been controlled by regular self-insulin injections and a carefully controlled diet, so this medication and advice was given to the patient. Young people often have the highest rate of non-compliance with self treatment protocols so the GP advised the family that he would keep them informed of any other possible therapies that might be easier to comply with if they became viable. There are many of these possible solutions currently in research and in clinical trails. New potential treatments include dampening the overactive immune system with specifically directed immunosuppressive drugs and pancreatic or islet cell transplants. As it turns out the patient was relatively disciplined in administering his own injections so was able to rapidly return to a healthy life.

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