Despite extensive research, type 1 diabetes is considered incurable to this day.<br />An American research team however, have made a major breakthrough,... recently succeeding in genetically modifying pancreas cells in rats so that they can produce insulin.<br />Our Cho Sung-min has the rundown.<br /> <br /> Around five percent of Korean diabetes sufferers have type one diabetes.<br />It is a chronic condition in which the pancreas lacks the ability to produce insulin, the hormone that signals cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. <br /> Type one diabetes is caused by a lack of beta cells, one of three major cell types in the pancreas.<br />Producing insulin is primary role of the beta cells.<br />Numerous studies have been conducted in search for a cure, but efforts have been fruitless... leaving patients needing insulin injections several times a day.<br /><br /> But a recent breakthrough could be the first step towards a cure.<br />An American research team succeeded in converting alpha cells in rats' pancreases into beta cells, allowing the rats to produce insulin.<br />They injected a modified gene into the alpha cells, prompting them to transform into beta cells. <br /><br />Experts in the field say the test could allow diabetes sufferers to generate insulin from their own pancreas... rather than needing injections.<br /><br /> "Patients with type one diabetes need at least three or four insulin injections a day. The experiment, when proven successful on the human body, will solve inconvenience and financial issues that the patients are currently dealing with." <br /><br /> The research team says it plans to conduct further studies on transforming pancreas cells, so that the technique could one day be used to help sufferers of type one diabetes.<br />Cho Sung-min, Arirang News. <br />
