The title reads "Cancer drugs halt type 1 diabetes in mice." My first response is: oh my gosh! How can this be??!??!! Then I read further. I can feel the emotions starting to get the best of me.
Do I break out in song? Do I start dancing around the room? Do I cry? What if this is it? What if this breakthrough is the one that we all have been striving for?
The article explains that research has shown two cancer drugs, Gleevec and Sutent, to halt type 1 diabetes occurrence in mice. It also says that up to 80 percent of the mice with type 1 diabetes went into remission from the drug. Eighty percent!
Gleevec is used to fight a specific chromosomal leukemia. Minor side effects are listed, such as nausea, skin blisters, and fluid retention. However, there are more severe side effects listed like liver problems, heart failure, and abnormal bleeding. A very strong caution is listed for women who may become pregnant or who are breast-feeding as Gleevec can cause harm to the fetus or child.
Sutent is used to fight renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal tumors. It also includes the normal minor side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, etc. The more serious side effects to Sutent are heart problems, bowel wall perforation, kidney disorders, and increased blood pressure.
Both of these drugs have potential hazards when combined with specific drugs. For instance, Gleevec should not be used alongside certain antibiotics, antidepressants, or cholesterol lowering medications. Sutent does not mention any specific drugs to avoid combining with its treatment.
It's amazing to me that it could take only two pills to be rid of diabetes. No more pumps, no more meters, no more lows or highs. Yet, it also amazes me that the side effects and complications of these medications are some of the complications that I fight so hard to avoid. And the combination of some pills that diabetics are so often on may prevent a cure from being easily accessible.
Would taking these medications be worth the risk of diabetes in general? How long might it take to know if long term remission is possible? Would I want to wait to begin this treatment until after I have kids? Or do I want to take the medication now and adopt to avoid any complications?
It's exciting, frightening, and frustrating to think that a cure might be in two pills and that cure might be a few short years away. I'm still not sure if I should break into song, dance around the room, or just cry.
