Is a cure for diabetes far away in the future?

Cure for diabetes in the near future?

• I saw on the news ,that some people with diabetes were cured by having an intestinal bypass. Is it possable that this will lead to a cure for diabetes in the near future?

• Answer:

  There is no cure for either type 1 or type 2 diabetes and there is no expected cure at least for the next several decades if there is to be a cure at all. In theory a cure for type 1 diabetes should be easier than a cure for type 2 diabetes as type 1 diabetes is less complex in terms of pathophysiologic changes. During the past 30 years there have been several times when we believed that we might see a cure for type 1 diabetes in my lifetime but none of these ideas have succeeded. Research continues however and the hope is that we may be able to blunt the auto-immune response which destroys the beta cells of the pancreas leading to type 1 diabetes. There are also efforts at replacing beta cells by a variety of means. Again - as of this date - there is nothing that is terribly effective. Gastric lap banding and other intestinal bypass surgery in type 2 diabetes may allow the individual to control their diabetes without medications but it would be a mistake to call this a 'cure'. Diabetes is a progressive disorder even when well controlled. Type 2 diabetes is so complex that there is at present no theoretical basis to finding a cure. If I may be of further assistance please let me know. I wish you the very best of health and in all things may God bless.