So I’m the designated research information volunteer for the Mid-Jersey chapter of JDRF. But, “if I’m being perfectly honest,” as Simon Cowell would say, I haven’t done a very good job at it at all. I just haven’t had the time to sift through the many emails I receive regarding the many diabetes studies going on around the world that are funded by JDRF.

It’s strange. You’d think that the more clinical trials being conducted would make one more hopeful for a cure. Somehow it has an opposite effect on me. As the number of studies increase, I feel a sense of cynicism growing. Too many claims of progress. Too many potential cures.

This one caught my eye though.

A University of Geneva study, co-funded by JDRF, found that some cells in the pancreas may spontaneously change into insulin-producing cells. By destroying almost all beta cells in mice, researchers found that without any type of genetic intervention, the destroyed beta cells became restored and reprogrammed from the alpha cells that were just milling about minding their own business, having a smoke and such.

Alpha cells, which normally reside alongside the beta cells and secrete glucagon, I learned, are spared in the autoimmune attack that causes type 1 diabetes.

Many of these research articles tend to favor the recently diagnosed, but this one would benefit those who have had diabetes for a long time. Less is more this time. The fewer beta cells left, the better. Less to destroy. Odd concept - wanting to destroy beta cells. Did you know that people living with diabetes for many years still had live beta cells? I didn’t. I thought all of Charlie’s beta cells were long gone.

So, how do we destroy these few remaining beta cells, hanging on like leaves on a tree in autumn?

I think the current process involves miniaturization. A scientist gets shrunken to microscopic levels and is injected into the patient’s subcutaneous tissue.  Once inside the body, the scientist can navigate his way to the pancreas in his submersible pod and use lasers to destroy the remaining beta cells. When done with the mission, the scientist can simply make his way to the nasal cavity and get sneezed out. Hmm. They should make a movie about that.

Sounds promising, yes, but I have questions.

If all of the beta cells replace the alpha cells, wouldn’t we have another problem to deal with?

And what of the reoccurring threat of an autoimmune attack? It’s done it before. What’s to say it won’t do it again? Is the immune system just waiting like a sniper, crouched down low on the third floor of an office building somewhere near the liver? Waiting for the moment beta steals alpha’s identity before pulling the trigger?

I’m going to hold off on the cartwheels for now.