Gene Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes Moves a Step Closer to Reality

摘要

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is assuming pandemic proportions and is currently estimated at 285 million cases (1). Although most cases are due to obesity-associated type 2 DM, there is also an increase in the annual prevalence of type 1 DM (2). It is estimated that 10% of the diabetic population have type 1 DM. Both forms of DM are associated with a long-term risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications (3) and the immediate risk of hypoglycemia.