Government
Bush signs measure to fight juvenile diabetes
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 15, 2004
President Bush last month signed into law a bill aimed at determining if pancreatic islet cell transplantation could become a standard form of therapy for people suffering from type 1 diabetes. The measure, co-authored by Sens. Susan Collins (R, Maine) and Patty Murray (D, Wash.), calls for an increase in the supply of pancreases for transplantation and improves the coordination of federal efforts and information regarding this issue.
Under the procedure, insulin-producing cells extracted from a cadaver pancreas are transplanted into a person with juvenile diabetes. These transplanted cells then produce insulin just as the patient's did before they were destroyed by diabetes. About 300 people have undergone this treatment since it began in 2001. More than 1 million Americans have juvenile diabetes.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/11/15/gvbf1115.htm.
