Re:Will this really work? (Score 1)

RE: the types of Diabetes - absolutely right. Type 1 is caused by an autoimmune attack on the Beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans, in the Pancreas (phew). Type II is caused by a reduced or lost sensitivity to Insulin and its effects. So sufferers of type I can take carefully meaasured doses of Insulin (very bad to over-do that one), and Type II sufferers have to watch their diet and exercise levels to keep their blood glucose levels in check. The stem cell cure will work as long as the immune system doesn't attack and destroy the new cells implanted (the cells themselves were functioning before, and making functional insulin). However, if this attack is caused/mediated by specific cell receptors on the membrane of those cells, then those cells would still be recognised as foreign, and destroyed. [/Brain Fart] Gah, even though it's always a shock when you see the immune system go wrong, I'm continually amazed by how well it _does_ actually work :).