Cord Blood May Help Kids With Diabetes
Parent Sparked Cord-Blood Treatment
Schatz says it wasn't his idea to start treating child diabetes with banked cord blood. The idea came from a parent.
"I received a call from a gentleman in Orlando," Schatz says. The man said he was the father of a child with diabetes, and began asking sophisticated questions about the use of experimental treatments. Thinking he was a fellow scientist, Schatz asked about the man's background.
"He said he was a financier, and offered to buy my time," Schatz recalls. "Of course I offered to meet him without charge. We spoke for two hours. And then he said that because he could afford it, he'd banked his child's blood. He said, 'I want you to use it to treat my 3-year-old.' That is how we got started."
So far, the treatment is available only to children whose parents could afford private cord blood banking. In the future, it may be possible to use cord blood from other children. But for now, Schatz and Haller consider this too risky. Even when tissue rejection isn't an issue, transplanted immune cells sometimes attack their new host -- a life-threatening situation called graft-versus-host disease.
"Even though we have treated 11 patients with more on the way, we have received 500 queries," Schatz says. "Parents say, 'I have a child with diabetes and I am pregnant -- can I use the cord blood to treat the older child?' But even with the closest matches you see some graft-versus-host disease."
- Living day to day with type 1 diabetes? Talk with others on WebMD's Type 1 Diabetes Support Group message board.
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
how well you manage your blood sugar over time.
This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
Step: of
Today in Diabetes
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.