I think I heard of a study that was being performed at U Penn about the same stuff. My friend was offered to do it, but I'm not sure what her decision was. She gave me a few details like the Diabetes would only be gone for a year and you would have to take daily suppression drugs (or soemthing)...but even if it's a year. Imagine everything you could do without having to worry about testing, or what you were eating...not feeling hindered by whatever you do to manage your T1 (since everyone does it differently).
If it were me, I would totally do it...even if only for a year, I'd be Diabetes free :)
I'm in one right now that's extremely low risk. It's actually not for a cure, but for blue tooth tester that beams the results to a web site where you can view graphs and stuff. You can also share it with you doctors. I don't think it has helped.
I could have gotten into the inhalable insulin one, but chickened out. I was afraid that something might happen to my lungs or something if I did. I got enough problems as it is. I don't need to get more!
I have had an islet tranpslant, so I guess I am a guinea pig of sorts hey?
The way I decided if it was right for me is as follows:
My diabetes was very hard to control. Lows with no warning signs - imagine feeling ok and testing and being 1.7 mmol (or about 30 mg/dl). Highs that were almost impossible to get down to a 'normal' range. Most patients that have had the transplant have the lows like that - or worse.
I had/have many complication - retinopathy, autonomic neuropathy affecting bowel function, E.D., gastropareisis - the list goes on.
I looked at some of the worse side effects of the drug regime, and kind of compared them to what I was dealing with at the time with my diabetes, and my decision was a no brainer. And worse case scenario - I would be back to where I came from.
Now for me - it is a good outcome. I am off insulin - although never the goal it is nice. My sugars are very stable - only 4 lows in 4 years, and nothing about 12.0 (216) 2hr/post meal. The side effects I do have, are pretty minor compared to how I was living before - so a good trade I think.
I would say to someone thinking about it - if your diabetes is under pretty good control, then just keep living your life. If you really struggle - then look into it.