Health | diabetes Stem Cells Offer Hope in Treating Type 1 Diabetes Procedure isn't a cure, but kept patients off insulin for up to 4 years By Katherine Thompson Posted Apr 15, 2009 8:27 AM CDT Copied New research on stem cells gives hope to insulin-dependent diabetics such as Brandon Merrell, 8, shown at his home Friday, July 11, 2008, in Gilbert, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Treatment for Type 1 diabetes may have taken a huge step forward, thanks to a procedure using a person's own stem cells to combat the disease. Although scientists stress that the treatment isn't a cure—and called for more study, given that the initial group consisted of just 23 subjects—researchers reported that the stem-cell transplant could keep patients off insulin for up to 4 years, the BBC reports. Most people in the study had to use insulin again sooner than that, but they needed less of it than before treatment. Such results would likely only occur for people recently diagnosed with Type 1, the version of the disease in which the body's immune system fights insulin-producing cells. Type 2, which is often triggered by obesity, wouldn't be affected. Read These Next Online sleuths expose Epstein file redactions. Rob and Michele Reiner died within a minute of each other. Sean Combs' team files appeal, argues he should be released. Sammy Davis Jr.'s ex, Swedish actor May Britt, is dead at 91. Report an error