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On Saturday, September 12, 1998, I went to
The Diabetes Research Institute in Miami, to meet with the
doctors and scientists who are trying to CURE diabetes! There were many kids and parents, and even my doctor, Dr. Nemery, at the 'What's Up Doc?' program.
I learned that scientists are trying to get new ISLET CELLS (these cells make insulin in the pancreas) in us, without the body trying to destroy them, like it did when we got diabetes. If they do that, people with diabetes will NEVER have to take shots again!! I saw how they put cells in a clear coating (ENCAPSULATION) so that the body can't attack the islet cells. We got to take a little home too! Another way they are trying, is by using BONE MARROW (the inside of your bone, where blood is made). They hope to 'teach' new blood not to attack the islet cells. The doctor working with the bone marrow has a 6 year old daughter with diabetes. I saw mice that had transplant surgery in this doctor's lab room. We looked through the strong microscope he uses to help do surgery on the small mice. I found out that monkeys and dogs help the scientists test these ideas to figure out how to CURE diabetes. I saw new testing meters and got a bag full of snack bars, the Starbright Diabetes CD, and other diabetes' care samples . These people work very hard every day so that one day no one has to worry about diabetes EVERY day.
I am glad I got to meet them :-)
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