1. BY KURT GUTORMSON Can Gene Therapy Cure Diabetes?

2. What Is It? Gene therapy was created to eventually one day eliminate daily insulin shots and that may better regulate glucose metabolism. Gene Therapy is the transplantation of normal genes into cells in place of missing or defective ones in order to correct genetic disorders.

3. When Was It Created? It was created in June of 2013 at the School of Medicine and Public Health by researchers. Yasuhiro Ikeda was one of the first people to come up with the idea that gene therapy could help treat diabetes.

4. Why Was It Created? It was created to analyze small sequences of DNA that create insulin-producing cells that help normalize blood sugar levels and perfect the regulation of glucose metabolism.

5. Can It Be Cured? It is the first known study to demonstrate how a DNA-based insulin gene therapy has the potential to treat T1DM. “Even we were surprised that a single injection could provide perfect glycemic control for up to six weeks,” says Dr. Hans Sollinger

6. Sources http://www.med.wisc.edu/news-events/gene- therapy-for-type-1-diabetes-aims-to-eliminate-daily- insulin-injections/41450 http://www.med.wisc.edu/news-events/gene- therapy-for-type-1-diabetes-aims-to-eliminate-daily- insulin-injections/41450 http://www.healthline.com/health/type-2- diabetes/statistics http://www.healthline.com/health/type-2- diabetes/statistics