Biggest breakthrough against type 1 diabetes since insulin as new drug offered on NHS delays start of disease by years

A TYPE 1 diabetes drug about to be offered on the NHS is the biggest medical breakthrough against the condition since insulin a century ago, say experts. Teplizumab is given through a drip every day for two weeks to patients who are in the early stages of the disease but do not have symptoms. The one-off treatment can delay the start of Type 1 diabetes by years and could benefit more than 800 people a year on the NHS. It is the first medicine to hold off the condition — previously, patients have had no option but to try to control it by injecting insulin. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity or unhealthy eating, Type 1 diabetes is genetic and affects about 400,000 Britons. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has now approved teplizumab for NHS use. READ MORE HEALTH NEWS It works by slowing the immune system’s attacks on insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Tests suggest it delays the onset of symptoms by up to 32 months. Two studies are underway on screening for Type 1 diabetes to identify those who could benefit. Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK, said: “This landmark approval marks the start of a new age of Type 1 diabetes treatment. Most read in Health “For the first time in 100 years, we are moving beyond insulin with a medicine that targets the root cause of the condition. “This is an extraordinary moment.” Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes There are two main types of diabetes, which causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce the hormone insulin. It affects around 344,000 people in the UK. Type 2 diabetes on the other hand is far more common, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the 4.4million adults with diabetes. It occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells don’t react to it properly. There are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes. But you may be at higher risk of type 2 diabetes if you are overweight or obese, eat unhealthily, have a family history of the condition, take certain medications for a long time, have high blood pressure, and have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy. People of Asian, Black African or African Caribbean origin are also at increased risk. Source: NHS and Diabetes UK