HOPES of a cure for Type 1 diabetes were raised yesterday with the roll-out of a revolutionary new treatment for the condition.
Only a handful of patients have so far received the therapy, which involves transplanting insulin-producing cells from the pancreas of a dead donor.
The UK government yesterday announced a multi-million-pound funding package to create six centres
in England to provide the procedure to more patients from across Britain.
A similar centre is also planned for Edinburgh and, if approved by Scottish ministers, could open in April 2009.
The procedure, known as islet transplantation, will benefit diabetics at risk of low blood-sugar levels – hypoglycaemia – which can lead to coma. But it is hoped in time the transplants could be carried out on more patients.
The procedure starts with cells being collected from the pancreas of a dead donor. These are then injected into the diabetic's liver, where they start producing the insulin needed to control blood-sugar levels.
People with Type 1 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it properly, meaning they have to rely on daily injections of the hormone instead. But patients who have taken part in trials of islet transplantation have found they can survive on fewer or no injections at all.
Stephanie Amiel, of King's College Hospital, London, where one of the transplant centres will be based, said news of the roll-out was exciting.
"Allowing King's and the other centres to offer this life-changing treatment will have enormous benefit for those patients who are suitable for islet transplant, Professor Amiel said.
"It will also allow the UK to develop the technique to be suitable for more people with Type 1 diabetes and may, in time, lead to a cure."
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is expected to apply next month to run its own islet transplant centre. The application will be considered by National Services Scotland, which will give advice to the Scottish Government on whether to recommend the service. It could run from April next year.
In the meantime, patients from across the UK will be able to get treatment at the six English centres.
Islet transplants have previously been offered to 12 patients with funding from charities, mostly Diabetes UK. In the first year of the new service, it is expected about 20 transplants will take place at the six centres. But the service will then expand to meet a predicted annual need of about 80 transplants.
Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of the charity, said: "We are delighted that Diabetes UK-funded research has proved to the government what huge immediate and long-term potential islet cell transplantation has.
"The decision to fund this programme will be life-changing for some people with Type 1 diabetes who suffer from the most serious effects of hypoglycaemia.
"Resolving the worst cases could save the NHS a significant amount of money, as hypoglycaemic attacks cost £15 million a year in hospitalisations and ambulances alone."
