New research monitoring the effects of Islet cell transplantation resulted in near-normal metabolic control and decreased hypoglycemia. This research will be presented at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 17th Annual Meeting & Clinical Congress, on Friday, May 16th, at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort in Orlando.

During the 18 month study, physicians used Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems to monitor the effects of the islet cell transplant procedure on patients with type 1 diabetes. The results were intriguing.

“Our findings suggest that the majority of patients with Type 1 diabetes who have received an islet transplant benefit from near normal metabolic control, with fewer and shorter episodes of hypoglycemia,” said Lisa Gorn, DO, the study’s primary author.

“These patients also spent longer periods of time in normoglycemia overall.

At the 2008 AACE Annual Meeting diabetes will be taking center stage. A special symposium titled “Clinical Trials Targeting Glycemia: What Do We Expect to Learn?” will consider the impact of glucose control through studies including ACCORD, ADVANCE, VADT, and others.

Related sessions of interest include “Insulin Resistance and Atherosclerosis: The Missing Link,” and “Hypoglycemia: The Limiting Factor in the Glycemic Management of Diabetes.”

Source: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)